An appeal was launched yesterday to raise funds for the conservation of what was described as "the jewel in the crown of Irish mining heritage", overlooking scenic Allihies at the end of the rugged Beara Peninsula.
The Mining Heritage Society of Ireland and a group of local landowners have joined forces to launch a fund-raising appeal for the conservation work, the cost of which is estimated to come to tens of thousands of pounds.
According to Mining Heritage Society of Ireland treasurer, Mr John Morris, the Cornish-type mining engine in Allihies, which dates from the 19th century, is unique in Irish terms and one of best examples of its kind anywhere in the world.
"This man-engine is an example of the Cornish type of engine house of which 3,000 were built in the 19th century throughout the world in Britain, Ireland, Bolivia, South Africa and South Australia," said Mr Morris.
"The vast majority of them were built to pump water and only 20 were built to transport miners and this is one of the best remaining examples of the man-engine in the world. It's extremely rare and absolutely unique in Irish terms," he added.
The Allihies man-engine's three main component parts, the engine house, the chimney stack and the boiler house, are all still intact.
"It's very amenable to conservation," said Mr Morris, adding that Cornish mine expert Mr Ken Brown was currently undertaking a study of the man-engine to determine exactly how it operated, a task which would be essential for any conservation work. Once Mr Brown - who visited the site yesterday - completes his study, a structural assessment will be undertaken by consulting engineer Mr Seamus Kelly to allow detailed costings to be worked out for the conservation work, said Mr Morris.
"What we're aiming to do is obtain funding for the conservation under the conservation grant scheme for listed buildings, which is funded by the Department of the Environment but administered by the local authority," he said.
At its peak, the Allihies copper mines employed some 1,000 miners and when the mines closed in 1881, many local miners emigrated to Butte, Montana, where they worked with copper miners from Bunmahon in Co Waterford.
Allihies was one of the biggest copper producers in Ireland in the 19th century and copper ore was transported by schooner from Ballydonegan in Allihies and from Castletownbere Harbour to Swansea.
The Allihies man-engine ran down a 70-degree shaft and worked on an oscillating principle whereby miners were transported nine feet at a time on steps to the horizontal mine workings almost 1,500 feet beneath the surface.
Local businessman Mr John Terry O'Sullivan - one of the owners of the common-age upon which the engine house is located - said its conservation would prove a major boost to tourism in the area.
"It's part of the industrial heritage of the area and conserving it would prove a major tourist attraction. "It would prove a particular attraction for people interested in mining, not just from Ireland but from all over the world."
Anyone interested in assisting with the conservation project can contact Mr John Morris on 016041473 or Mr John Terry O'Sullivan on 027-73004
