Arigna Mining Experience
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Lárionad Lorg Mianadóireachta na hAirgní[1] | |
 The entrance in 2014 | |
  Location within Ireland | |
| Established | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Location | Arigna, County Roscommon, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°04′36″N 8°07′03″W / 54.076614°N 8.117523°W |
| Type | Coal mining museum |
| Visitors | 350,000 since 2003 |
| Curator | Valerie Stenson |
| Website | www |
The Arigna Mining Experience is a centre dedicated to the coal mining history of Arigna over a period of 400 years, local geology and coal, as well as new forms of renewable energy. It is Ireland's first museum dedicated to coal mining.
The history of mining in Arigna goes back to the 1700s, where coal was extracted from one of the narrowest seams known.[2] Opened in the 1600s by Charles Coote, it changed ownership many times, including the United Irishmen the O'Reilly brothers, and then by local families. The Noone family from Sligo owned the mines from c1940-1970. Whereby it was run my Michael Noone & his brother Jack Noone.[citation needed] The coal was extracted originally for use in the processing of iron ore, as both nearby Sliabh an Iarainn and the Arigna River contain deposits the ore. Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge is made of Arigna iron. The mine served a purpose-built ESB station, which closed with the mine, when in 1992 the coal ran out.[3]
