Mining the Past
SHS Group visit King John’s Castle Limerick
Silvermines Historical Society Members visit King John’s Castle in Limerick in December 2022
Read More20th CENTURY MINING IN SILVERMINES
The heritage and history of the Silvermines area is unique in terms of mining and for centuries now, mining has been carried out at various stages and with varying degrees of intensity. The earliest mention of mining in this area dates to 1289 when Italian miners from Genoa and Florence in Northern Italy came to…
Read MoreBALLINACLOUGH IN THE MID 19TH CENTURY
The 1837 publication of Samuel Lewis’ ‘A Topographical History of Ireland’ painted a picture of Ballinaclough (Ballynaclough) at that time as a prospering parish situated on the River Arra with 1149 inhabitants living across 3,701 statute acres. It highlighted Ballinaclough’s improved agricultural systems (presumably cultivating wheat, oats and potatoes on conacre; though not specified) along…
Read MoreBEYOND THE BUCK GATE
In many ways it was very much an anachronism in our lives, but for those of us who grew up around Dolla and Silvermines in the ’fifties, Kilboy and the ‘Big House’ will always have certain associations and memories. My own childhood home was just across the fields from Lord Dunally’s cropped mansion, and only…
Read MoreCONRADH NA GAEILGE IN BALLINACLOUGH
A Branch of the Gaelic League was formed in Ballinaclough in 1954 by the late Padraig O’Coileain. Padraig, or Pat, as he was known locally was a primary school teacher and had a great interest in all things Irish. The branch began its activities in Hughie Droney’s hall, with Irish language classes and Ceili dancing,…
Read MoreANDY COONEY I.R.A. ACTIVIST AND MEDICAL MAN [1897 – 1968]
Many of those involved in the War of Independence had books published about their exploits. Dan Breen with My Fight for Irish Freedom [ 1924 ] was one of the earliest as was Piaras Béaslaí with his Michael Collins and the New Ireland [ 1929 ]. These were followed by many others including Guerrilla Days…
Read MoreA COMMUNITY CENTRE WITH A PAST
Next year, 2013, Lissenhall will celebrate a very special event – the 50th anniversary of the opening of its community centre. But the building which has been the centre of social activities in the area for half a century has a far older history, which hopefully will be the subject of a future article in…
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