Glengowla Mines

Glengowla Mines is a Historic 19th Century Silver and Lead Mine, situated in Oughterard, County Galway and is in fact, Ireland's ONLY Show Mine!

 

About Glengowla Mines

Glengowla Silver and Lead Mine is a remarkable and impressive example of how part of our valuable industrial heritage has been reclaimed, restored and transformed into an outstanding visitor attraction.

 

 

 

Set in spectacular rugged scenery - forests, rivers, and the renowned Lough Corrib. Situated 2 miles west of Oughterard village 300 metres off the N59 Galway/Clifden Road (20 minutes drive from Galway; 10 minutes drive from Maam Cross and 40 minutes from Clifden.

 

Take a tour of the mines
 

 Glengowla Silver & Lead mine

The Restoration Process:

Ireland's ONLY 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.

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 stopped 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.

	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.

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. All images are taken from the video "Glengowla".

 

Watch the Video of Glengowla Mines

 

With special thanks to

Scoil an Chlochair, Oughterard, Co. Galway for producing this video.

 

 

Ireland's ONLY Show Mine!! - A Great Family Day Out!!

 

Points of Interest

• Heritage and Visitor Centre
• Agents House & Paymasters Office
• Spring Well
• Hand-winding Stow
• Blacksmith's Shop
• Circular Powder House (magazine)
• Horse Whimm

 

Other Amenities

• Coach & Car-Park
• Rock & Mineral Shop
• Gold Panning

 

Our Location

Set in spectacular rugged scenery - forests, rivers, and the renowned Lough Corrib. Situated 2 miles west of Oughterard village 300 metres off the N59 Galway/Clifden Road (20 minutes drive from Galway; 10 minutes drive from Maam Cross and 40 minutes from Clifden.