Avoca Mines Bringing Our Industrial Past to Life   Welcome Welcome to Avoca. We hope that when you come to visit us here you will find lots of new and interesting things to consider. We think that you will discover a unique resource: its landscape is different and its stories are fascinating.   Landscapes tell the story of people from a long time ago, and this narrative is both clear and abundant in County Wicklow because it is so different to that of any other place. The Avoca catchment is made up of steep sided wooded valleys bringing rivers down from the Wicklow Mountains. These mountains are composed mostly of granite. They make Wicklow the highest county in Ireland. Gardens and estates have been carefully laid out. Much of the land is covered with forest, and several old estates and demesnes are planted with trees.  There are areas of oak woodland throughout the Wicklow Mountains National Park.  Many of these features are man made. A major influence on the shape of the landscape is the fat that this area was once the premier mining district of Ireland. It provided an important world source of copper, and iron was also obtained from its mines which worked all up until quite recently. This website is intended to help you to discover more about how the landscape here was formed. It explores its mines, its heritage, its history and its communities. We include maps and suggested walks to help you around. We also include information about the work we have been doing with our European partners in North Wales which has a parallel mineralogy and history. The Avoca landscape offers us an opportunity to learn more about the fascinating life work of Ireland’s forgotten industrial past. The mines once employed thousands of people. When they become exhausted what happens to the people who worked in them and where do their communities go? Perhaps some stayed and found other work. But others, we’re sure have travel the world developing their skills in pursuit of their vocation. We have other interests in what has happened to the landscape. Although a mine might cease to operate it continues to have an impact on the surrounding environment. As water percolates through the abandoned mines its chemistry is altered, and when this water eventually comes to the surface and drains the old workings it pollutes rivers in the form of ‘acid mine drainage’ or AMD. This devastates rivers, destroying aquatic life. Scientists and engineers develop techniques to address this problem, and through this opportunities to learn about science are created. A programme which will eventually restore some of the mined area, and gives us an opportunity to explore the mining area the river which is polluted in particular for its educational potential.