Dublin Branch IWT Celebrates Heritage Week
– 19
th August
A group of Dublin branch members and
non-members arrived at Carrick Gollaghan Hill to explore the built heritage and
natural heritage of the area. Thankfully the weather held for us most of the
afternoon and we just had a few light showers. We headed first for the tunnels
and chimney of the Ballycorus Leadmines where we explored a short length of the
now protected Ballycorus Leadmines complex. The main purpose of the tunnels and
chimney was to convey the fumes up to high ground and be expelled into the air
at higher altitudes away from the smelting works below in the valley.
From these structures, we meandered through
the neighbouring Coillte forest, walked along a short length of the Dublin
Mountains Way. We took a small detour before climbing up the mount of Carrick
Gollaghan by walking along a forest path that appears on the old 1830s Ordnance
Survey map. Doing what thousands had done before for maybe 200 years seemed
fitting for the occasion.
A few mushrooms were looked at but none
tried. It was too early for blackberries and too late for fraochan. With
bottles of water and snack eaten we gently climbed to the 927 feet altitude.
Various mountains of north Wicklow, and Dublin were pointed out. In the heather
vegetation, swallows darted in and out. After a much needed rest, we made the
descent and returned to the car park.
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| Scots Pines |
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| Entrance to leadmine tunnel |
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| Leadmine chimney |
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| Lichen showing the air is clean now |
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| Carrick Golloghan mount |
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