This article is from page 3 of the 2006-05-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
RESIDENTS of Flagmount and surrounding areas could be sitting on pots of silver and gold, and a Co Meath-based mineral explorations company is set to find out.
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey has published a notice confirming that minerals, including silver and gold, appear to be under the lands in and around Flagmount, in the waters of Lough Graney and the islands it contains. These minerals are not being worked.
The Minister has confirmed that he intends to grant a license to Arum Mineral Resources Ltd, Aurum House, 40/41 Watergate Street, Navan, Co Meath.
The license will enable the company to explore the designated area for mineral deposit, though it does not authorise the holder to mine the areas.
The actions permissible under a prospecting license are, in general, non-invasive and have a minimal environmental impact.
Flagmount is one of three areas being targeted by prospectors. Minister Dempsey has also published his intention to give two separate licenses to Central Mining Finance Ltd, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, England.
The English firm is intending to prospect for silver and base metals in townlands around the Bunratty area and also in the east Clare townlands of Keelderry, Newtown and Ballymacdonnell.
On the prospect of gold under the lands at Flagmount, Clare County Councillor Pat Hayes (FF) told The Clare People: “I would be delighted if there was a gold mine under the land here. Whatever comes from that, the local community should benefit first.”
Cllr Hayes said that the prospectors have been coming to the Maghera area for a number of years seeking out minerals.
“Since I was a young fella, they have been coming to the area. I remember they found a little known mineral called diorite in the 1960s, though it was never mined.”
“It would be a massive boost for the area if gold was found in Flagmount. I am not sure if landowners have any rights to minerals under the ground. There is a query on that.
“We are so used to companies coming to east Clare looking for minerals, but they have never found enough to justify a commercial operation,” he added.