About
Heart of Connemara’s Rich heritage
Glengowla Mines & Family Farm Experience is proudly owned and operated by Keith Geoghegan and his family, who have called Glengowla home for generations. The Geoghegan’s are deeply rooted in this land, from working the mine, farming the land, and living at the heart of Connemara’s rich heritage.
Unique Visitor Experience
At Glengowla Mines and Family Farm Experience you will find lots to do- an Underground Mine Tour, Sheep Herding and Traditional Irish Turf Cutting Demonstrations. We are about to start offering Farm Walks too all at the one destination.
Glengowla Mines & Family Farm Experience are owned and run by Keith Geoghegan. The mines and farm have been intrinsically entwined with the Geoghegan family for generations. Their ancestors have lived in Glengowla and worked in the mine and farmed the land. After the mine closed, they moved into the Mine Agent’s Cottage and continued to live in the cottage until 1989.
Since opening to the public in 1998, Glengowla Mines has welcomed thousands of visitors from around the world, offering a rare glimpse into the life of an Irish silver and lead miner in the 1800s.
A Family Farm Beyond Mining
Glengowla Mines is more than just a mine, it’s also a working family farm. The land has been farmed continuously for centuries, and many visitors have taken an interest in this. This inspired Keith to share more of the everyday workings of the farm, including sheep herding demonstrations with his talented sheepdog.
Another highlight is our traditional turf cutting demonstrations, where guests can experience the smell of a turf fire and even try their hand at cutting turf themselves. You will also learn about the importance of our bogs in today’s life, while giving you a true taste of the meaning of bogs in Irish history and rural life.
And...Action!
Over the years, the beauty and authenticity of Glengowla Mines have also caught the eye of filmmakers, with the site serving as a backdrop for various films and TV series.
Find out more about filming at Glengowla Mines
A Tribute to Heritage
Glengowla Mines & Family Farm is a living tribute to heritage, hard work, and the enduring connection between people and place. From deep underground to wide open hills, we invite you to explore our story and make it part of your own.
What Our Visitors Say
DEUB563524/08/2025Verified VERY ENRICHING VISIT Very good, simple and efficient with guides young and passionate about the past of their country. This tells of a terrible period of Ireland (disdain of the people by the English and Irish Protestants, working conditions worthy of Germinal,...) in the middle of the 19th century.An expensive hair for 40 minutes. Jennifer R23/08/2025Verified Glengowla farm and mine experience Thank you for a wonderful experience at your farm. We loved meeting you and your dog, Pip, and learning all about sheep herding. Keith was very informative of life in the country. We appreciate him answering all of our questions about the livelihood of sheep in the Irish countryside. The best part of our experience was when Keith brought out his 31 day old lamb and offered us to hold her. We loved watching Pip showing off all her herding skills! Carlitos Way.26/07/2025Verified Great experience, a must in Glengowla east Visiting the Glengowla Mines was an unforgettable experience. One of the highlights was watching the sheepdog demonstration — it was incredible to see the dog skillfully gather the sheep with just a few commands. The setting itself was absolutely stunning, surrounded by rolling hills and breathtaking views of the Irish countryside. A perfect mix of culture, nature, and tradition. Highly recommended for anyone exploring the area! Michael C20/07/2025Verified We did both the mine tour and the sheepherding demonstration in 1/2 a day. Learned some really cool and unexpected things, and Keith is a great storyteller for everything you want to know about farming and sheep! One of our top memories of our week in Ireland. Not a bad drive from Galway. Cheers! galwaygirlIreland11/07/2025Verified Highly recommend Lovely place. Very clean. Very informative and great for the kids to learn about some history and the hard times of Irish ancestors. We got a lovely surprise of a lamb at the end to pet, I presume that's going to be seasonal obviously! Very friendly staff. We did the sheepdog demonstration and the mine tour. The farmer was full of information on the running of farms today and the effects of globalism.. information we wouldn't normally get.. highly recommend! 631jefferyr14/06/2025Verified Very informative & entertaining. We did the sheep herding exhibition with a group. The exhibition was more like a friend explaining his business to you & showing how well hid collie could herd. We didn’t have time for the mine tour, but some people came out when we first arrived & seemed like they had had a good time. If your in the Galway area, would recommend traveling the 30 minutes or so to visit. Maria Jose P11/06/2025Verified Best farm ever A super nice moment, professional guides and great experience with the sheeps 🫶🏻 thank you! I highly to do all the tours! Super nice people, and interesting how they change for a better sustainable farm. Blakeshill08/06/2025Verified Lovely way to spend an afternoon Most enjoyable & informative experience. Keith’s knowledge & love of the land, his sheep & dog was clearly evident & he elaborated & explained every step clearly & at a suitable pace for a mix of adults & kids in our group. We’d strongly recommend Glengowla, we’ll be back another time to visit the mine amcglinc06/06/2025Verified 100% recommend, great experience What a wonderful experience, Keith shared with us his love for the land & his life as a farmer in Ireland. We were treated to a great experience of him & his sheep dog working the sheep & showcasing their great bond & skill together. Thoroughly enjoyed & highly recommend! Great to hear from a local about their life & history. Also a lovely gift shop to buy from someone local. richard o04/06/2025Verified Wonderful hour demo for adults and young kids! Keith demonstrated a sheep dog in action and it was more than amazing! Along the way, he described historic and “today” life as an Irish farmer and very patiently answered questions from both young and old. A “one of a kind” experience with very easy access and close to other fun attractions and small restaurants. Our extended family had several kids aged 10 to 2 and they all enjoyed watching “Pip” herd and perform!