Deerpark Mines

{{Short description|Set of coal mines in Ireland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Use Irish English|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox mine

| name = Deerpark Mines

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| pushpin_map = Ireland

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| coordinates = {{Coord|52.823849|-7.207728|display=inline,title}}

| place = Castlecomer

| subdivision_type =

| state/province = County Kilkenny

| country = Ireland

| products = anthracite

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| type = opencast coalmine

| greatest depth = {{Convert|700|ft}}{{cite web|url=http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/environment-geography/physical-landscape/castlecomer-plateau/coalmining-in-castlecomer/coal-seams/.|title=Coal seams|access-date=31 May 2021|website=Ask About Ireland}}

| discovery year =

| opening year = {{Start date|1924}}

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| closing year = {{End date|1969}}

| owner =Wandesforde family

| official website = {{URL|discoverypark.ie}}

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The Deerpark Mines ({{Langx|ga|Páirc Na bhFia Mianach Guail}}), about 3 km north of Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, were the largest opencast coalmines in Ireland, giving great employment to the area. The mines produced anthracite, a natural smokeless fuel, which unlike other forms of coal is not a major contributor to air pollution and air pollution-related deaths.[http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/03/deaths-per-twh-by-energy-source.html#more Deaths per TWH by Energy Source] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724024259/http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/03/deaths-per-twh-by-energy-source.html#more|date=2015-07-24}}, Next Big Future, March 2011. Quote: "The World Health Organization and other sources attribute about 1 million deaths/year to coal air pollution."[https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2012/06/10/energys-deathprint-a-price-always-paid/ How Deadly Is Your Kilowatt? We Rank The Killer Energy Sources, Forbes], retrieved 6/7/14

Other neighbouring coal mines were the Vera (named after Vera Wandesforde, the eldest daughter of the owner) and the Rock near Glenmullen.

Deerpark Colliery opened in 1924. It reached an average output of 400 tonnes of coal per day.{{Cite web |url=https://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/environment-geography/physical-landscape/castlecomer-plateau/coalmining-in-castlecomer/deerpark-colliery/ |title=Deerpark Colliery |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Ask About Ireland}} By the 1960s the mines were uneconomical to run and finally closed in 1969.{{Cite web |url=https://www.discoverypark.ie/adventure-activities/ |title=Out History |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Discovery Park}}