Silvermines
{{short description|Village in County Tipperary, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Silvermines
|native_name = {{Irish place name|Béal Átha Gabhann}}
|native_name_lang = ga
|settlement_type = Village
|image_skyline = Silvermines3089.jpg
|image_caption = Silvermines village at dusk
|pushpin_map = Ireland
|pushpin_label_position = right
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Ireland
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = Munster
|subdivision_type3 = County
|subdivision_name3 = County Tipperary
|established_title =
|established_date =
|unit_pref = Metric
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 =
|population_as_of = 2022
|population = 301
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone1 = WET
|utc_offset1 = +0
|utc_offset1_DST = -1
|coordinates = {{coord|52.7930|-8.2370|dim:100000_region:IE|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m =
|blank_name = Irish Grid Reference
|blank_info = {{iem4ibx|R840713}}
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
Silvermines, historically known as Bellagowan ({{Irish place name|Béal Átha Gabhann}}),{{Cite web|url=https://www.logainm.ie/ga/|publisher=Bunachar Logainmneacha na hÉireann|website=logainm.ie| title = Béal Átha Gabhann / Silvermines |access-date=9 May 2025 }} is a village in County Tipperary in Ireland. It lies immediately north of the Silvermine mountain range and takes its name from the extensive mines of lead, zinc, copper, baryte and silver nearby. Towards the very south of the Silvermine Mountains is the highest peak in the mountains, Keeper Hill ({{langx|ga|Sliabh Cimeálta}}), which rises to 695m, dominating the area. Silvermines village is located near the town of Nenagh on the R499 regional road. It is a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe{{Cite web|url=http://www.killaloediocese.ie/parishes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227011331/http://www.killaloediocese.ie/parishes|url-status=dead|title=Parishes of Killaloe Diocese.|archive-date=27 February 2010|access-date=4 November 2021}} and is also in the historical barony of Ormond Upper.
History
=Early history=
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of ringfort, castle and bawn sites in the townlands of Ballygown South, Gortshaneroe and Cloonanagh.{{cite book | title = The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary | editor1-first = Jean | editor1-last = Farrelly | editor2-first = Caimin | editor2-last = O'Brien | place = Dublin | publisher = Government Stationery Office | date = 2002 }} Historically known as Bellagowen or Ballygown ({{Irish derived place name|Béal Átha Gabhann|approach to the ford of the smith}},{{cite book | title = The Civil Survey, A.D. 1654-1656: County of Tipperary | via = Irish Manuscripts Commission | date = 1934 | page = 244 }} the area has been named for its association with the nearby Silvermines since at least the 17th century. The village itself largely dates from development in the late 18th century.{{citation | title = Miner's settlement, Ballygown South,Cloonanagh,Garryard East, County Tipperary North | url = https://portal.ariadne-infrastructure.eu/resource/c176ecefe89aa51bc6d24ba6633f2b1b8250ebe36eb6261f85a23b5c775193f0 | work = The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary | editor1-first = Jean | editor1-last = Farrelly | editor2-first = Caimin | editor2-last = O'Brien | via = portal.ariadne-infrastructure.eu }}
=Mining heritage=
Some records suggest that there was mining in the district as early as the 13th or 14th century. However, this may have been short-lived.{{fact|date=May 2025}}
Mining resumed in the 17th century and continued intermittently until the late 19th century. A number of ruined industrial buildings in the area date from the late 1880s.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/22307010/silvermines-calamine-and-lead-mines-ballygown-south-silvermines-co-tipperary-north | website = buildingsofireland.ie | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Silvermines Calamine and Lead Mines, Ballygown South, Silvermines, Tipperary North | accessdate = 9 May 2025 }}
Mining activity restarted in 1949, and shortly after a world-class deposit of baryte was found and opencast mining of this began in 1963 by Magcobar (Ireland) Ltd. Soon after a multi-million-tonne orebody grading about 11% combined lead and zinc was also discovered. This was worked underground from 1968 to 1982 by Mogul of Ireland Ltd. The Magcobar mine closed in September 1992, and its extensive spoil heaps are a prominent local landmark, visible for miles. The Mogul mine became well known for the quality of the mineral specimens it produced, particularly of the ore minerals galena and sphalerite.{{citation | last = Moreton | first = S. | date = 1999 | title = The Silvermines District, County Tipperary, Ireland | work = Mineralogical Record, vol. 30 | pages = 99-106}}
The area's Old Smelting House, now a ruin, is listed as a protected structure by Tipperary County Council (RPS Ref S477).{{cite web|url=http://www.tipperarycoco.ie/sites/default/files/Publications/NTCC%20Register%20of%20Protected%20Structures_0.pdf|title=NTCC Register of Protected Structures|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130023543/http://www.tipperarycoco.ie/sites/default/files/Publications/NTCC%20Register%20of%20Protected%20Structures_0.pdf|access-date=4 November 2021|archive-date=30 January 2015}}
In the 21st century, the area was the subject as some media attention as the integrity of the village's water supply was threatened by pollution from the tailings left behind at the mine.{{fact|date=May 2025}}
Transport
While previously served by a freight-only siding from the Limerick to Ballybrophy Railway, freight trains no longer serve Silvermines.{{cite web|url = https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/ForgottenRailways/Silvermines-Branch-Kilmastulla-Siding | date = July 2021 | accessdate = 9 May 2025 | title = Forgotten Railways - Silvermines Branch & Kilmastulla Siding}}
Since March 2025, Local Link route 854 provides several journeys daily (including on Sundays and public holidays) from the village to Nenagh and Roscrea.{{cite web|url = https://www.nenaghguardian.ie/2025/04/01/enhanced-local-link-service/ | website = nenaghguardian.ie | title = Enhanced Local Link service | date = 1 April 2025 | accessdate = 9 May 2025 }} On Fridays only, Bus Éireann route 323 from Newport, County Tipperary to Nenagh also serves the village.{{cite web |url=http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1319729592-323.pdf |title=Route 323 - Timetable - Effective November 2011 |access-date=2012-01-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412152941/http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1319729592-323.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-12 | website = buseireann.ie }}
The Slieve Felim Way, a {{convert|43|km|mi|abbr=off}} National Waymarked Trail through the Silvermine and Slieve Felim Mountains, has a trail-head in the village.{{cite web|url = https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/trails/slieve-felim-way | website = sportireland.ie | title = Slieve Felim Way | accessdate = 9 May 2025 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{County Tipperary}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe}}
{{Authority control}}