" West to Glendasan "

The Wicklow Gap road heads west through the mountains as it passes the old mine workings and village of Glendasan lying in the shadow of Tonelagee mountain. Its a wild, desolate yet somehow hauntingly beautiful place.

Lead ore was discovered here in 1800 and it was mined off and on until 1957. The spoil heaps from the mine shafts are visible on the surrounding hillsides with the main crushing and picking area in the centre of the picture.

Eight miners houses were built here and they called it " Fiddlers Row " as a musician lived in each one so there would be many social gatherings and traditional music sessions in the houses which would have lasted well into the night. I remember seeing an old miner who lived here, being interviewed on tv, a few years ago. He said that he wished he was still living there as it was a magical place and the people were all friends and they helped one another as they were so isolated and a long way from the nearest village. I can understand that and I had to shelter in one of the old ruined cottages when I got caught in a storm one evening. There was a nice feeling to the place.

The mine owners were extremely good to their workers and looked after them helping to build a school and a church in Laragh village. During the great famine of 1847-1850 these miners would have been the lucky ones whilst over 2 million people died and 1 million emigrated.

There were only 3 fatalities in the life of the mine which is a good record considering there was no health and safety back then.

Many of the miners who left here during the times when it was closed went to work in the tin mines in Cornwall, and the copper mines in South America and Australia. Many of their family relatives are still living in these places to this day. Lots of the mineshafts here had Australian titles like the "Botany Bay Mine" or "Van Diemens Mine" which would be directly connected to immigration.

In the 1800s there would have been very few roads in this area. The nearest village was Glendalough and that was 4 miles east of here. Many miners had to walk here and back every day. They used a path which is know as "The Madmans Road " Part of it is visible just above the road on the right hand side. I walked it a few years ago and it is pretty rough, boggy and overgrown in places. It would not have been a nice walk in those times either. I was glad to do it and to think about those who walked it long ago.

I often wonder if you went up there on a stormy winters night and sheltered in one of the old buildings would you hear the music of the musicians who lived in that amazing place, echoing around the valley as it did way back a 100 years ago or would it just be in your imagination? I wonder!

Here is some history;

www.countywicklowheritage.org/page/the_glendasan_mines

 

www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/history/mining/

 

And some song words which seem to fit;

 

" I know I heard that tune before my friends

But I cant remember when,

Did I hear it on some friendly shore,

Or did I hear on the wind,

Was it written on the sky above,

I think I heard it from some one I loved,

But I never heard it sound so sweet since then,

 

Now the fiddles in the closet,

Of some daughter of the town

The strings are broke and the bow is lost,

And the covers buttoned down

But sometimes on December nights,

When the air is cold and the wind is rife,

The melody still passes through this town "

{ The Ballad of St. Anne`s Reel }

 

Heres John Denver with the song;

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VegDMMh2WDw

 

I do hope you like the photo and the bit of history to it.

Here`s Aly Bain, the great Scotish fiddle player with my favourite version of St. Anne`s Reel.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwllcWC_FL4

 

And if that wasnt enough here is some more;

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5kEiE6bDxk

 

Have a quick look at my photos on Flickriver.

Its a great way to view pictures.

 

flickriver.com/photos/137473925@N08/

 

 

P@t.

 

 

 

 

Done