IONTOABH OIDHREACHT NA MIANADÓIREACHTA

Glengowla Mine, Co. Galway (Map 45 - 425086)

This tourist mine is located just west of Oughterard in the scenic Connemara district of County Galway. The Geoghan family owns this site and in 1999 turned it into a show mine. Prior to opening the mine was pumped out -  when the mine was abandoned by the workers it filled with water. As a result, a number of interesting artefacts have been found including, kibbles, tools, windlasses and an interesting haulage shoot and pumping system. There are also a number of museum specimens of calcite and green fluorspar. The mine was worked during the mid 1800s and records show that it was worked for lead, zinc, barytes and iron pyrites.

There are few remaining surface features apart from a leat, which runs for about 2 miles. There is the suggestion of a waterwheel pit, a building that could have been a powder house and another which may have been a Blacksmiths Shop. The Geoghans have also built a horse gin and have made the shaft tops safe.

39.25 tons of lead with 3.57oz per ton were extracted. See Cole's Memoir page 102 and 143.

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Last modified: 05/02/07