Kinahan — On Irish Metal Mining. 305 



tlie newer Granytes, which are possibly of Silurian or Devonian age. 

 These younger Granytes, for reasons hereafter given, may possibly 

 have some sort of connexion with the great Mineral Channel of 

 the Co. Wicklow. 



Wicklow is the premier county in Ireland for mines, not on 

 account of the ores being very rich, but in consequence of the 

 great extent of the mineral ground, and that the mining operations 

 have been in varying activity at intervals from time immemorial. 



The great Mineral Channel extends from near the sea, south- 

 ward of Wicklow, nearly continuously, in a south-west direction, 

 to Ovoca, and from that to the flanks of Croghan-Kinshella, a dis- 

 tance of about fifteen miles. In the Channel, and adjoining it, 

 the rocks are " iron masked," similar to the rocks adjoining the 

 intrude of the younger Granyte ; this has led me to suggest that 

 this Channel has a possible connexion with the vulcanicity to which 

 the younger Granytes are an adjunct. In places along the Channel 

 there were very ancient mining operations. 



At Connary and Cronebane, in the East Ovoca Mines, there 

 was ancient mining for lead and silver, as has been proved in 

 recent years by the finding of " Old Mens' workings," stones — 

 hammers, and other primitive implements. Further south-west, 

 at Moneyteigue, there were other early workings, apparently 

 for iron. Tradition has it, that iron was raised here by the early- 

 Irish, and that after the O'Helys were driven out of the country, 

 the Norman knights, Eaymond and Sillery, built castles in the 

 vicinity, and worked an iron trade. Towards the end of Eliza- 

 beth's reign, the Earl of Stafford (Black Tom), took possession 

 of the county. He, and afterwards his successor, mined and 

 worked iron, through their tenants, or Iron-Masters, the Paynes, 

 the Bacons, and the Chamneys. 



The works belonging to the earlier proteges of this dynasty 

 cannot be specially mentioned ; but between Aughrim and Bally- 

 naclash there are the ruins of very ancient iron works and mines, 

 that are supposed to have belonged to them; as are also others on 

 borders of this county and Kildare. 



Bacon, an Englishman, came over and built works at Shille- 

 lagh. Before his time most of the charcoal was sent to "Wales to 

 be there used in the final working of the iron. He, however, con- 

 sidered it would be more economical to import the pig-iron than 



SCIEN. PHOC, R.D.S. VOL. V. PT. IV, Y 



