Overview
The name is the history: Silvermines (Irish: Béal Átha Gabhann) has been dug for lead, zinc, copper, baryte and silver on and off since at least the 13th century, and the workings still shape the landscape around the village. It’s a small place tucked under the Silvermine Mountains in north County Tipperary. Most people come for one of two things: the walking, or the mining story. The village is one end of the Slieve Felim Way, and its public memorials make a good first stop before you head for the trails.
Keep clear of former mine workings and fenced ground. The heritage here is real, but the old sites are not visitor attractions and the ground around them can be unsafe.
Mining heritage
The first record of mining here dates to 1289, when Italian miners from Genoa and Florence came looking for silver. Working carried on intermittently for the next seven centuries, but the real scale came late: much of the production was in the second half of the 20th century, when a major zinc and lead operation ran here before mining finally stopped in 1992.
What’s left is unusually legible in the landscape. Spoil heaps and tailings ponds still mark the ground north of the village, a reminder that this heritage isn’t all picturesque. The Old Smelting House, now a ruin, is a protected structure on the county council’s register. Silvermines also earned a small place in geological literature: the term ‘Irish-type’ zinc-lead deposit was coined for the orebodies here in a 1978 paper that won a Silver Medal from the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
In the village itself, the public memorials, including a miner statue and mine cart, are a simple way to see the story.
Walking and trails
The Silvermine Mountains carry everything from a short forest loop to a longer linear trail.
Knockanroe Woods loop
If you’ve got a couple of hours, this is the one to do. Sport Ireland’s Silvermines–Knockanroe loop is a moderate 4.1 km forest and hillside route, waymarked with purple arrows. Keep dogs on a lead. The ground can be soft or wet, so wear boots rather than trainers.
Keeper Hill (Sliabh Cimeálta)
At 695m, Keeper Hill is the high point of this part of Tipperary, and on a clear day the views reach across to Lough Derg and the Arra Hills. It’s a proper hill walk, exposed at the top and boggy underfoot after rain, so pick your day and your footwear. Check the forecast before you set out; there’s nothing on the mountain if the weather turns.
Slieve Felim Way
The Slieve Felim Way is a longer linear route between Murroe in County Limerick and Silvermines. Check the route map and your return transport before choosing a stage. The village makes a natural start or finish.
Getting there and practical info
- By car: Silvermines is on the R499, reached by open rural roads from Nenagh.
- By bus: TFI Local Link route 854 links Silvermines with Nenagh and other stops. Check the timetable for your date before you rely on it.
- Parking: Check the signs at the trailhead and in the village, and park considerately on the narrow roads.
- What to bring: Waterproofs, layers, water and a map or GPX file. Don’t count on refreshments along the mountain trails.
Nearby
- Arra Hills: A short drive away, with marked trails and views over Lough Derg.
- Devil’s Bit Mountain: The flat-topped Tipperary peak, with the legend that gave it its name.
- Cahir Castle: A well-preserved medieval castle in south Tipperary, an easy half-day if the legs have had enough of hills.
If you’re carless, plan around the Local Link 854 timetable; if you’re heading up Keeper Hill, plan around the weather, because the summit is bare and the ground holds water.