Mining was probably in the Blood

Welcome to The Coalmines of Tipperary Blog Post. 

This Blog is all about the miners and coal mines of Tipperary in the Slieveardagh Coalfield. 

Today we are sharing our first post and we will share a new post daily all through Heritage Week 14th to the 22nd of August 2021. 

And where is the Slieveardagh Coalfield?

Slieveardagh Coalfield, Slieveardagh Hills, Tipperary, Ireland.

The Slieveardagh coalfield in the Slieveardagh Hills is about 11km long and 5km wide. It is about half way between Thurles, Co Tipperary and Kilkenny City.

OK, so who are we?

We are a local Mining Interest Group who want to be sure that the unique coal mining history of the area is documented and will be available into the future.

After 150 years of relatively large mining ventures in the Slieveardagh Coalfield ending in the late 1980’s there are ‘mining families’ and ex-miners who’s histories are specific to the area, important and can still be recorded. This blog has evolved from gatherings held in The Old School, The Commons.

Old School Community Centre & Mining Museum

Slieveardagh National School, The Commons was built in 1877 as a school for the local population of children, many of whom came from mining families. It was renovated and re-opened The Old School Community Centre in 2012. 

Ex-miners gathering in The Old School 2012

Miners, families and friends enjoy Heritage Week 2015

It has been used for gatherings of ex miners and their families since it opened

Many miners and their families from the area have loaned or donated mining artefacts to The Old School. Over the last year purpose built display units have been constructed and the collection along with maps, photographs and models now form a small museum. Items include picks, lamps, helmets, jiggers, tallys and even a billy can and lunch box all used by men in the local mines.

Large Display Unit Old School Mining Museum

Items from the collection have been photographed and will be included in future posts. 

Since 2015 tours of the mine sites have been arranged annually during Heritage Week. Last year we could not have a tour and it was missed!

Slieveardagh Mine Sites tour Heritage Week 2016

This year in 2021  ex-miner Michael 'King' Cleere is our tour guide and has revisited the sites with artist Katy Goodhue.  We will post short videos of  Michael's visits each day during Heritage Week, and whether you see them on the day or save them for another time they will be there for all to tour the sites of the coalfield into the future. Katy has also put together the material for our daily blog posts.

And here is Michael's first video

We visit the site of the last commercial mine that was worked in the coalfield, and our guide for the week Michael, introduces himself!

In 2021 The Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications is working on a draft to end any prospecting for coal in Ireland. And this week the UN climate change report has been published emphasising the urgent need for an end to the use of fossil fuels.

Coal is responsible for 25% of carbon emissions world wide. 

Coal mining is a major part of our local heritage.  Mining was a dangerous, health damaging and often life limiting occupation and through this blog we wish to honor the memory of the miners and the mines of the Slieveardagh Hills.