On the bcGUVTence and 'Winning of Gold in Ireland, 269 



river, which itself is a tributary of the Ovoca, joining the latter 

 at the lower " Meeting of the Waters," near Woodenbridge. 

 These tributaries unwater the north and north-eastern slopes, 

 valleys, and associated spurs of Croghan Kinshelagh. To the 

 north-west, gold in very minute quantities has been found in the 

 Ballythomas brook. This and the streams to the west and south 

 were explored by the peasants, who probably washed only the 

 upper river gravels ; so that, as there is a deep deposit of drift in 

 all the valleys, it is very possible, if a sinking had been made to 

 the rock, gold in greater quantities would have been obtained, 



Ceoghan Kinshelagh, Historic Notes. 



It does not appear that there were any ancient gold diggings in 

 this locality. It has been reported, however, that before theGovern- 

 ment instituted workings here, during the last century, the ground 

 in places had the appearance of having been previously worked. 



The following early historical notes have been taken principally 

 from the letters of Lloyd and Mills to the Royal Society, and the 

 published reports of the directors (Weaver, Mills, and King) to 

 the Government. 



About 1765 the first recorded piece of gold was found here, by 

 a man crossing the brook (Ballinvally) ; it was about the size of 

 the head of a brass nail. This set many people looking for it, but 

 it appears they were very unsuccessful, as they soon abandoned 

 the search. However, a local schoolmaster, named Dunahoo, in 

 1770, used to seek after it in the early mornings, and he told his 

 neighbours, amongst them Mr Graham of Ballycoog House, that 

 gold abounded in some of the valleys. About the same time a 

 piece was found by a boy, named John Byrne, when fishing ; and 

 it was also stated that some Dublin jeweller about this time ob- 

 tained four or five ounces of gold annually for eleven or twelve 

 years from a peasant of the vicinity. 



After September, 1795, the wealth of the stream* between Ballin- 

 vally and Ballinasilloge became generally credited in the neigh- 

 bourhood. One report states it was owing to a man finding a piece 

 half-an- ounce in weight, while another is that a lump weighing 



* This stream was then called " Aughatinavought." This name is now quite forgotten 

 locally, having been supplanted by that of " Gold Mine river." (See Map, plate xxi.) 



