I.A.Recordings
Industrial Archaeology
I.A.Recordings
Industrial
Archaeology
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Site Feature: Glengowla lead mineI.A.Recordings visited Glengowla lead mine near Oughterard, County Galway in Ireland in 1997 to explore it before it was opened as Ireland's first show mine. |
| The mine is owned by the Geoghegan family who have done an astonishing
amount of work to stabilise the surface, pump-out the mine, build steps to give
access to the upper workings, and repair the buildings.
On the surface, the powder magazine, blacksmith's workshop and the agent's cottage have been restored and contain items rescued from the mine. A hand windlass and a horse-gin have been constructed. |
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The mineral vein was discovered when loose rocks of galena were found just
below the surface of farm land.
Mining started in 1851 and was suspended in 1865. During that short 14 year period, 545 square metres was stoped to produce 390 tonnes of lead containing 28 kilograms of silver. |
| Today the mine is rich in what was left behind by the miners.
The video "Glengowla" includes an underground trip down to water level guided by Keith Geoghegan and a quick look at the surface remains. |
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Underground, many artefacts can be seen, including stemples supporting stacked deads, ladders, pump rods and pipes, pulleys, ore tubs, windlasses, guide chutes and timbers. |
| Glengowla also has a scintillating variety of minerals: marble, dolomite, quartz, calcite, barite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and very rare blue/green octahedral fluorite. Vugs large and small are lined with gleaming crystals. |  |
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The cast iron rising main and pitch pine pump rods still reach to the sump.
The rods were driven by a waterwheel on the surface fed by leat from Lough
Agraffard. The plunger of the main pump is one of the artefacts on display in
the restored Captain's cottage.
In a side chamber is an intact windlass above a winze sunk to explore how deep the ore went. |
| Glengowla mine, set in the wild and beautiful scenery of Connemara is now
open to the public. There are underground tours and surface displays and it is
well worth a visit.
Opening times 09:30-18:30 March-November & most winter weekends. Tel. Ireland +353 (0) 91 552 360 or +353 (0) 88 529 850 Irish grid reference: M 086 417. |
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Last modified 19/3/99
