Ballycorus Lead Mines: A Relic of Ireland's Industrial Past

Ballycorus Lead Mines, located in County Dublin, offers a glimpse into Ireland's industrial heritage. The site, which began as an open-cast mine around 1807, was later taken over by the Mining Company of Ireland (MCI) in 1826. The MCI expanded operations to include underground mining and a smelting facility in the valley below.The most prominent feature of the site is the chimney atop Carrickgollogan hill. Constructed in 1836, the chimney was the terminus of a 2 km flue that carried fumes from the smelting process. This system was designed to capture lead from the fumes, but the process resulted in lead poisoning among workers, earning the area the grim nickname "Death Valley".After the local mine was exhausted in the 1860s, the Ballycorus facility continued to process ore from other MCI sites, including locations in Wicklow, Wexford, Donegal and the Isle of Man. The facility finally closed in 1913. Today, visitors can explore the remaining structures, including the chimney and sections of the flue. The surrounding area is managed by Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership, with a waymarked walking trail called the "Lead Mines Way" leading to the chimney.