SECTION 1

[ Metal in Early Historic Times ] [ Len the Smith ] [ 18th Century Mining in Killarney ] [ Rudolf Raspe ] [ Weaver Map ] [ Mining At Muckross ] [ An Industrial Venture ] [ Thomas Weaver ] [ The Mining Companies ] [ Mines in Killarney ]

The most important phase of industrial mining at Ross Island began with the arrival of Colonel Robert Hall to this area in the early 1800s. With 13 partners, he established the Ross Island Company and obtained a 31 year mining lease from Lord Kenmare for a one eight royalty of ore raised. Mining commenced in 1804, employing 150 miners and labourers. The company initially worked the Blue Hole, discovering a rich bed of lead and copper '..which was raised with great facility, and afforded for a time considerable profit'. Mining continued until 1810, raising some 3200 tons of rich copper ore, worth an estimated £80,000. Unfortunately, this involved considerable expense, mainly due to problems of lake flooding, leading to an outlay of around £50,000 between 1804-8.

Bank Note Ross Island Mining Company.

This first phase of mining ended around 1810 due to financial problems, however the Ross Island Company continued operations for another four years. In 1811, Lord Kenmare granted a new lease to the mine captain William White. He tried to develop the mine over the following two years before finally abandoning it in 1814. The Ross Island Company also mined some 86 tons of copper ore on nearby Crow Island between 1812-13

                  Crow Island.

'A Gentleman from Cornwall'

Colonel Robert Hall was a pioneer of metal mining in the south of Ireland in the early 19th century. He arrived in Ireland in 1795 in command of a regiment which included many Cornish miners. Hall opened several copper mines in Munster between 1802-23, at a time when there was a growing demand for copper during the Industrial Revolution. He initiated mining at Ross Island in 1804 where his regiment was previously garrisoned, before going on to open mines in West Cork. Hall returned to Killarney in 1818 to re-open the Western Mine at Muckross, raising some ore before this venture was abandoned.