BALLINAFUNSHOGE

The scenic valley of Glenmalure is the longest glacier valley in either Ireland or Britain. Shadowed by the mighty Lugnaquillia (927m) its inhospitable terrain provided safe haven for rebels like Fiach McHugh O’Byrne who in 1580 defeated 800 English soldiers in the Battle of Glenmalure having waited in ambush in the trees of Ballinafunshoge.
The nearby disused lead mine opened between 1797 and 1800, during the period of the 1798 rebellion, it was one of the last places in which the rebellion was eventually suppressed. It operated until 1864 producing up to 400 tons of lead ore per year.
A very important aspect of mining exploration was the use of timbers to support the tunnels. The shafts and tunnels needed to be propped up as the miners worked their way into the mountain. In the 1850s and 60s The Mining Company of Ireland planted over a million trees in the Glendalough Valley for use as timber props in the mine. This was also a commercial venture for the Company as some of the timber was sold on the open market, adding to the company profits. Today the forest species include Scots Pine and Larch.
There are two waymarked trails at Ballinafunshoge, the Miner’s Path and the Wicklow Way.