Lickfinn in the Townsland of earlshill was an old slope mines,mined

by olden miners in the early 19th century.         .

They stoped mineing there when they met water known as Dugans leval.

It lay abandonded for years until 1978 when Kealy Mines commenced

explorations in the area and reopened Lickfinn near the village of New-Birmingham,Initially the mines employed 34 miners and the ESB expressed an intrest in useing Ballingarry coal for to generation of power,however the high

temperatures produced by the Anthracite caused its fire-greats to overheat.

The Sugar Factory in Thurles became an important customer.

Financing proved a difficulty at the mines and was sold to a Canadian in1982

trading as Tipperary Anthracite.The new Company expanded its work force to 80.

An Electrically powered coal cutter was employed and investment allowed for

further modernisation of Plant.

Extraction of coal was concentrated on the No.2 seam with its reserves at that time

to be 3 Million Tonnes

By 1985 the mines was in receivership and the mines was closed again.

As part of a local initiative the Old School in The Commons was renovated by

Slieveardagh Rueal Development,It displays numerous artifacts relating to the

Mining heritage of the Slieveardagh region and is also intended as a social centre

for former miners and their families.

It is estimated that there is 40 years work for 120 men still in Slieveardagh.