THE AVOCA MINES

Mining played an important role in the history of Avoca. Today the remains of seven engine houses, a mineral tramway arch with a colourful mine landscape containing precipitation ponds and spoilheaps from the different eras still exist here. The Avoca mines thrived for centuries. Cartographers for the Greek geographer Ptolomy, who mapped Ireland in 150 AD indicated the location of Avoca (then spelt Oboka) and it is thought that the Romans traded ore with this valley.