The Silvermine Mountains or Silvermines Mountains ( ga, Sliabh an Airgid) are a mountain range in County Tipperary, Ireland. The highest peak of the range is Keeper Hill or Slievekimalta at high. Traditionally, the mountains were deemed to be part of the Slieve Felim Mountains. Tempan, Paul (2006)
"Two Mountain Names: Slieve Felim and Mauherslieve"
. ''North Munster Antiquarian Journal'', volume 6. pp.120-122 The village of Silvermines is located to the north of the mountains and has been a mining centre since the 14th century. There are three Special Areas of Conservation on the Silvermine Mountains; the Silvermine Mountains SAC is known for its Northern Atlantic wet heaths, with '' Erica tetralix'' and species-rich ''

Nardus ''Nardus'' is a genus of plants belonging to the grass family, containing the single species ''Nardus stricta'', known as matgrass. It is placed in its own tribe Nardeae within the subfamily Pooideae. The name derives from ancient Greek ' () fro ...

'' grassland; the Silvermines Mountains West SAC is known for its Northern Atlantic wet heaths, with ''Erica tetralix'', and its European dry heaths and

Calaminarian grassland Calaminarian grassland is grassland where the process of seral succession has been halted due to the toxicity of soils containing high levels of toxic metal ions. These habitats may be semi-natural on naturally exposed deposits, or the result of m ...

s where the levels of heavy metals, such as lead, are high, and are toxic to many plant species; and Keeper Hill SAC, known for its Northern Atlantic wet heaths with ''Erica tetralix'' and blanket bogs.

History

The oldest records of mine workings here date to

1289 Year 1289 ( MCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * June 11 – Battle of Campaldino: Pro-papal Guelph forces of Florence and the ...

when miners from Italy were working the seams. Silver was extracted for use in coinage, and lead for materials for the roof of new monasteries being built in the 13th century. Mining continued sporadically over the next 600 years. By the mid-nineteenth century, there were three engine houses with beam engines for crushing, winding and pumping. A new phase of activity occurred in the 1960s when a new rich deposit was found which was worked on the surface and underground. Operations ceased in 1984 but left behind them waste tips and tailings ponds.

Slieve Felim Way

The

Slieve Felim Way The Slieve Felim way is a long-distance trail through the Slieve Felim Mountains in Ireland. It is long and begins in Murroe, County Limerick and ends in Silvermines, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in two days. It is designated as ...

, a

long-distance trail A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, horse riding or cross-country skiing. They exist on all continents excep ...

through the Silvermine and Slieve Felim Mountains has a trail-head in the village of Silvermines. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Shannon Development and

Coillte Coillte (; meaning "forests"/"woods") is a state-owned commercial forestry business in Ireland based in Newtownmountkennedy. Coillte manage approximately 7% of the country’s land, and operates three businesses - their core forestry business, a ...

References

{{Mountains and hills of Munster Mountains and hills of County Limerick Mountains and hills of County Tipperary Special Areas of Conservation in the Republic of Ireland