Mardyke Mines also Known as the Found situataited between Delaneys Cross (TownsLand)

and Ballynonty 8klm from Ballingarry Vilaage and 22klm from Thurles Town.

It was the First Commercial Mines in Slieveardagh to go into opperation this was in 1826.

The Mining Company Of Ireland was formed in 1825 and by 1848 there were over 30 houses

an office,shop,Mardyke School, it was a triving area with over 170 men and staff employed there.

It was the first mine in slieveardagh to use Electricity to power its winchs and water pumps.

But in 1833 Mardyke closed its gates because there was so much Duff in the coal

Duff was the waste off of the coal and was mixed with yellow clay to make Fireing

It was  very good to burn and made cheap fireing for thousands

of people,the reason for the yellow clay was to make it sticky

and was made into colum balls by useing your two hands and

then, they came up with the idea of a colum ball maker(photo on right) which

was made of steel so that it could be pushed into the mixed colum

to shout out the colum balls.Mardyke reopened in 1841  but closed again in 1848

The Ruines of this mines is still evedent today(15/12/2012)

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