Townland gears up for gold rush
RESIDENTS WELCOME PROSPECTORS
THE TOWNLAND of Knocknalour above Bunclody is gearing up for a gold rush, as Connemara Mining prepares to take advantage of a prospecting licence. The Dublinbased firm agreed a joint venture with Canadian company Hendrick Resources to move on four licences for areas in South Wicklow/ North Wexford, including Knocknalour and its neighbour Tombreen on the other side of the county border.
'I haven't seen any nuggets in the streams and I can't see too many people going out with their pans,' commented Kilrush PP Father Joseph Power. He recalled that the possibility of gold was mentioned several years ago but Knocknalour now appeared to be the same as any other party of his rural parish.
In recent times it was more notable for wind power, with planning permission granted for a series of turbines to catch the breezes that sweep across the hills. Now the place is in the spotlight with the possibility that not only gold but also other precious metals such as silver and platinum may be under the ground there. News of the venture comes just a few weeks after a gold deposit valued at €55m was located in County Monaghan, the largest such find on record in Ireland or Britain. Field work is set to commence without delay in the site referred to by Connemara as the ' Mine River licence block'. A programme of air and ground testing followed by drill testing is planned without delay.
'We are delighted with this joint venture,' commented John Teeling, Chairman of Connemara Mining Ltd., whose share have jumped 20 per cent in the wake of the announcement. For over 200 years explorers have sought the source of the Avoca gold which led to the 1796 gold rush. Dale Hendrick, founder of Hendrick, is a highly experienced successful figure in Canadian exploration. He is of the opinion that a commercial gold deposit remains to be found in south-east Ireland.
' Between windmills and gold mines we will be made up!' laughed Knocknalour resident Angela Tobin after hearing the latest development. She recalled that that there was great excitement in the area more than 10 years ago when exploratory drilling work was carried out. ' Then it all died down.'
Knocknalour is located six miles from Bunclody, four from Carnew and four from Kilrush.
- DAVID MEDCALF
