Arigna.

Arigna is a village situated on a designated "scenic route" between Keadue and Sliabh an Iarainn. Coal Mining was the main industry in the area until 1990. The coal was used for iron works and later for power generation, but with the closing of the local Generating Station the mines closed.

The history of mining in the area began in the Middle Ages. At the beginning of the 17th century, iron was mined and smelted at Arigna, using charcoal from local forests. The timber eventually ran out and the iron works closed. In 1765 the mining of coal began and 30 years later smelting was revived using local coal instead of charcoal. The iron works finally closed in 1838.

Coal mining continued and the coal was used for heat and to power steam engines. In 1958 Arigna Power Station was opened, the first major power generating station in Connacht. The station was built specifically to burn the local semi-bituminous coal, with its high ash content. At its height, the power station burned 55,000 tons of coal per year and employed 60 people. The main goal was to secure jobs in the local mining industry. At the end of the 1980s the power station was shut down and the mine followed in 1990.

Arigna Mining Experience was developed to keep the memory of mining alive. It consists of exhibitions and an underground tour guided by former miners.

Arigna links on this site: (Blue links are live):

Arigna Leader.

Arigna Mines.

Arigna Mining Experience.

Arigna Railways.

Billheads.

Postcards.

Source: Wikipedia.

Arigna People (above). See postcards link for full details.

Images are not to scale.

This is the material we currently have for Arigna, if you have more and would like to give it a good home, please contact us.

"Scars on the Mountain" CD (above) and the article from the Roscommon People newspaper of 8 May 2009 (below) .

The CD is available from www.roscommontrad.com

A set of cards, available from the Visitors Centre in 2010.

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