Drilling for gold starts in Clonegal

Exploration company Connemara Mining started to drill for gold last Friday on Gibbet Hill in Corragh, Clonegal.

The Mine River gold project will stretch across 15 km to Carnew and Tombreane in county Wicklow, and will take no longer thanamonth.

‘It will be 500 metres of core drilling,’ explained Patrick Cullen, CEO of Connemara Mining Company. ‘There will be very little disruption and it will have a low impact on local communities.’

Mr Cullen said the holes they drill ‘will be no bigger than a pringle tube’ and if a substantial amount is found they would move to extract it. ‘If a great amount is found we would mine it,’ said Mr Cullen. ‘But due to costs, we would have to do a joint venture with another mining company.’

The company were granted 17 licenses for the work, so they have permission to move in on the site if gold is found after drilling.

Connemara Mining Company have been active in the Wexford and Wicklow area in the past and know there is gold based there from previous drilling.

‘The rivers and streams in both counties have gold in them,’ added Mr Cullen. ‘We are looking to find the source of that.’

‘We have been busy in the field these past few months,’ added chairman John Teeling. ‘We are looking forward to developing this project.’