Trip Planner: Europe / Ireland / Western Ireland / Province of Connacht / County Galway / Oughterard / Glengowla Mines & Family Farm Experience

Glengowla Mines & Family Farm Experience, Oughterard

4.8

#1 of 11 in Things to do in Oughterard

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Glengowla Mines is a "show mine" dedicated to the lead and silver mining history of Glengowla and the Oughterard area.
Mining at Glengowla began in 1851, after a farmer discovered galena just under the soil surface. The first mine shaft was named after a Captain Paul. The mine was in operation until 1865, eventually measuring 40 metres deep and 200 feet wide. The main mining centred on silver and lead, though Connemara marble, gold, dolerite, quartz, and rare green and blue octahedral fluorite.
The site was opened as a heritage site by the owners of the land, Patrick and Keith Geoghegan. Glengowla Mines' site includes the remains of a 19th-century silver and lead mine, which has been restored to allow visitor access. There is also a heritage and visitor centre, a blacksmith's shop, and a circular powder house.
Glengowla is part of Ireland’s National Seismic Network, logging real-time information with a seismograph, contributing to information of earthquakes worldwide.

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Glengowla Mines & Family Farm Experience reviews

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449 reviews

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4.8

By 553nassimr

My sister and I visited on a quiet weekday afternoon and we were one of two parties there. We saw the sheepdog demonstration and the mine tour as a group of the two of us. We met one of the sheep...

My sister and I visited on a quiet weekday afternoon and we were one of two parties there. We saw the sheepdog demonstration and the mine tour as a group of the two of us. We met one of the sheep... more »
By Justin M

Sean is a very friendly and knowledgeable guide. We felt we had had a great experience descending 120 feet into the cave. Very enjoyable 40 minutes, well recommended

Sean is a very friendly and knowledgeable guide. We felt we had had a great experience descending 120 feet into the cave. Very enjoyable 40 minutes, well recommended more »
By Stephen C

Great time on the mine tour. Sean was a great guide very friendly and welcoming family run business. Definitely recommend.

Great time on the mine tour. Sean was a great guide very friendly and welcoming family run business. Definitely recommend. more »

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By Franzi

Such a nice family that runs the business!! You can book a 40min guided tour through an old mine and there is a little shop as well. You can have a picnic on one of the picnic tables and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere on the lovely site - there are sheep and a playground as well! It is definitely worth a visit! :)

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By Raffinato Finishes

Brilliant place to visit with the family. The tour guide and owner were extremely knowledgeable and friendly and included our three children in the tour to make sure they learnt something and enjoyed it too. Would highly recommend a visit here if you’re visiting!

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By Derek MC cluskey

We loved every minute of this experience. You are greeted by your very personable and entertaining tour guide who first brings you through the use and history of the stones mined in the area. You learn about the main purpose of the mine and the stone that bares lead used to make bullets during the war. You are then taken down into the mines which extends down several levels making for a very interesting tour captivating the younger minds. So much history to absorb and so much to marvel at. Highly recommended.

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By James Larkin

Brilliant 👍👍

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By Lynne Watson

We took our great moves & nephew to Glengowla on Wednesday 13th April 2022. What a find! We booked the Shepherding experience & the Mine Tour, both were superb. The kids fell in love with Flossie, they were fascinated & very engaged throughout the session, Keith was so engaging & interesting to listen to, we all learnt something. The kids then got to hold a lamb, only 5 days old. The Mine went down 130’, it was fascinating listening to Sean go through the history of the Mine & to hear how the Mine had been restored for visitors by his father & grandfather, there is a brilliant set of photos showing the process. Being a miner back then was a tough job, again incredible to see the lead seams and how @ where the tools were used. For the Kids they had g to d best time panning for gold, I think they could have done that all day!! They get a little mastic back to keep their finds, unfortunately none of them found the big nugget of gold 😂 Great day, thanks to all involved!!

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