Allihies Copper Mine Museum facts for kids
| Musaem Mianaigh Umha na nAilichí | |
Engine House
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| Established | 2007 |
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| Location | Allihies, County Cork, Ireland |
| Type | Copper mining museum |
The Allihies Copper Mine Museum (ACMM) is a cool place in County Cork, Ireland. It teaches you all about the history of copper mining in the Allihies area. You can find it along the famous Wild Atlantic Way.
History of the Mines
The copper mines in Allihies started way back in 1812. A man named John Puxley first opened them. The mines were very busy by 1845. About 1,600 people worked there at that time.
Sadly, the mines and the local area faced tough times. This was during the Great Famine. The mines kept working until 1962. That's when they finally closed down.
You can still see the ruins of large engine houses today. These were built around the mining site. They were called Cornish engine houses. Their job was to pump water out of the mines. This allowed miners to dig deeper. Some shafts even went below sea level. These engines also helped move miners and equipment.
Many Cornish miners came to Allihies in the 1800s. They were skilled at digging for copper ore. They built the engine houses, mining shafts, and even a church. When the mine stopped making money, many miners moved away. A lot of them went to a place called Butte, Montana in the USA.
About the Museum
The museum itself is in an old church. This church was built in 1845. It used to be a Methodist church.
The museum officially opened on September 13, 2007. President Mary McAleese opened it. This happened after ten years of hard work. A group called the Allihies Mines Co-op helped make it happen. They wanted to save the history of the area. The Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland also supported them.
What You Can See
The museum has many interesting displays. They show the history of copper mining in Allihies. You can learn about mining from ancient times. It also covers the 1800s and the Industrial Revolution.
The displays also teach you about the local rocks and land. You can learn about the social history of the miners. The museum has real mining tools and equipment. These are from different times when the mines were active.
The museum also shows off art. Local and international artists display their work there. Some of these artists include Charles Tyrrell and Cormac Boydell.
The museum group is working on new things. They want to offer tours inside the old mines. They are also restoring the Man Engine House.
Images for kids
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Old building, Mountain Mine, Allihies
