kilmacabea_rowing_club.jpg "Marine Gallery")
Glandore mines was worked first for copper, then for manganese and iron. A ruined engine house and overgrown open-cast remains.
The mines are located on the “upper” road between Glandore and Leap. Take the turn for School Road next to the Marine Hotel and travel about 1-2 minutes drive to Leap. On the left hand side you’ll see the forty-five-foot chimney and engine house mark the location of Glandore Mines.
The oxide of manganese occurs at Glandore , on the southern coast of Cork, where considerable quantities of ore have been raised. In Glandore mine, the principal variety of ore is the true peroxide. Hydrated sesqui-oxide is also found. The ore occurs associated with veins of quartz. The rock of the locality itself is upper clay-slate, of which so much of the mining district of the south of Ireland is composed. The earthy hydrated peroxide of manganese is of very common occurrence.
The mine went through successions of opening and closing during the year. Initially there existed a cupriferous peat bog which was worked on by Colonel Robert Hall. It is said between 1810 and 1819 that six hundred tons of ashes were gathered valued at £5000. In 1840 Captain Tonkin & Mr. Underwood sank a 33 yard deep shaft in search of copper but stumbled upon manganese. For 27 years they made a great living off the export trade to Liverpool. In 1879 it is claimed the present Engine House was erected. In 1181 the mine was closed once more but re-opened in 1907 by the Liverpool Manganese Co. when manganese increased in price. Unfortunately due to high transport costs little profit was made and so the mine was finally closed in 1911.
