There is a rich vein of mining tradition running through the Avoca region, an abundant lode of copper, silver, and gold deep in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains. Activity in the mountain range dates back to the 1720s but the trade did not come without its dangers. There was a near-constant risk of tunnels collapsing, as happened in 1825 at one shaft in the complex, leaving two miners trapped for over 30 hours.  They were rescued when the next team showed up for their shift. It was a near miss in a mine complex, which, although long abandoned, still poses…

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