What to expect when you book your tour. Come and join us for a tour like no other in the West of Ireland. Glengowla Mines are Connemara’s only show mine. The Mine, abandoned in 1865, hold a world of wonder waiting for you to explore. Your Glengowla experience will begin as soon as you enter the Glengowla grounds. Situated at the base of the Connemara Mountains, Glengowla mine buildings and captains’ cottage once bustling with Connemara workers now operates at a much sleepier pace. Enjoy the atmosphere, scenery and pet our resident Connemara Ponies. Your guide will bring into our museum where they will show you what minerals you will find below ground and artefacts of the mine found during its excavation. Next you will be kitted out in your miner hard hat before heading underground to the mine. Below ground, be prepared to be submersed in a world where miners struggled to make a living in the Irish Famine Era. Water dripping, your miners ’breath’ and the presence of the miners chisel marks sets the scene. Marvel at marble chambers and rare octahedral crystals of fluorite and quartz. Back on the surface; take time to pan for gold at our gold panning station - a big hit with adults and kids alike. Keep whatever gems you find. Minerals and Irish crafts are also available in our gift shop. Allow approx 40 minutes for a mine tour. Your guide will explain the safety measures we have in place at the Mines before issuing everyone with a safety helmet. Before you descend the mine you are given a tour of our historical museum which contains examples of rare minerals mined here, artefacts found when the mine shafts were excavated and documentary photographs of the excavation process. Also the family history of the mine going back to the 1850’s is explained.