Quarry

The National Monuments Service's description

On a moderate N-facing slope on the western summit of the Silvermine Mountains, in rough upland grazing. Silvermines village lies at the base of the hill, c. 1.7km to the NNW, with the Silvermines mining complex at the base of the hill, to the S of the village. There are panoramic view from NW to E with Lough Derg visible to the N. 

A steep-sided sub-circular hollow (Wth at base 8.7m N-S; 5m E-W; Wth at top 16.6m N-S; 16.3m E-W; max. H 3.95m) identified and reported by Barry O'Donoghue. The sides are covered in gorse while the fairly flat floor has rushes, suggesting it can become waterlogged.  There are smaller depressions from E to SW where the sides have been dug into. The hollow is accessed via a well-defined N-facing entrance (L 14m; Wth 1.4m at N end, widening to 1.8m as it enters the hollow), with a bank (E bank overall Wth 6.4m; Wth at crest 4.45m; int. H 1.72m; ext. H 1.59m; W bank Wth 2m; int. H 1.84m; ext. H 0.2m) on either side. The interior ground level rises slightly towards the entrance and at the entrance slopes gently downwards towards the N. Slate is evident in patches where the ground has been exposed. On the upper rim of the hollow on the E side there is evidence of a bank, probably upcast, which is not evident to the S or W.

It is very unusual to get a small quarry of this type on the summit of a mountain. It may be related to mining activity.

 

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly