8. Mining / Geology

Ireland was a prolific centre of Bronze Age metallurgy, and the discovery of a rich copper mine at Ross Island, Killarney, supplied almost all of the copper used in Ireland from 2400 1900 BC.

The Herbert family became very wealthy during the 18th century due to the working of the copper mines on the Muckross Peninsula. These areas are now designated as Special Areas of Conservation for Calaminarian Grasslands.