http://www.glengowlamines.ie/ Had a great visit with Keith and his daughter Orla today, great people with a super operation, the shop was nice a cozy today and it was a wet day so a good time to tour the mine. Go see Keith and his team, check out their website for pre- booking of tours. What a great stop off for your “Staycation” in Connemara. Check out our “Staycation” special here https://riverbendlodge.ie/2020/07/16/catch-our-10-15-discount-special-now-staycation-golfing-fishing-sightseeing-biking-and-hiking/

Glengowla Mines and working farm are steeped in history, old cuttings from well before the mine opened in 1850 dot the landscape, in those days Monks often put valuable covers on their books and manuscripts and the silver and other precious metals found here were sought after. The first miners at Glengowla were the Hodgsons from Gortevagh.

The mine is noted for its rare and beautiful octahedral crystals of fluorite and quartz.In the Natural History Museum in London there is a piece of fluorite, pale green octahedron 7cm. across with calcite, galena and pyrite from Glengowla on display