Underground Mine Tours

Step into a tour like no other in the West of Ireland. Glengowla Mines, Connemara’s only show mine, invites you to explore a remarkable underground world abandoned since 1865 and brought back to life for curious adventurers.

Your experience begins the moment you arrive at the Glengowla Mines. The restored Mine Buildings and the Captain’s Cottage, once alive with hardworking miners, now offer a peaceful and atmospheric welcome. Enjoy the sweeping scenery and soak up the history.

Your guided visit starts in the museum, where you’ll discover the minerals found deep below the surface and examine artefacts uncovered during the mine’s restoration. Then it’s time to put your miner’s hard hat on and venture underground.

Beneath the earth, you’ll go back in time to the Irish Famine era, when miners worked tirelessly in challenging conditions. Hear the water drip, see the original chisel marks, and feel the presence of history all around you. Marvel at breathtaking marble chambers and rare octahedral crystals of fluorite and quartz.

Back above ground, try your luck at our gold panning station, a favourite with both adults and children. Keep any gems you uncover! You can also walk and see some of the old buildings that have been restored. Look at some rock formations of marble and Granite visible on the site.