Overview
The name is the history: Silvermines (Irish: Béal Átha Gabhann) has been dug for lead, zinc, copper, baryte and silver on and off since at least the 13th century, and the workings still shape the skyline north of the village. It’s a small place – 301 people at the 2022 census – tucked under the Silvermine mountain range in north-west County Tipperary, on the R499. Most people come for one of two things: the walking, or the mining story. The village is the southern end of the 43 km Slieve Felim Way and the handiest base for the climb up Keeper Hill.
Mining heritage
The first record of mining here dates to 1289, when Italian miners from Genoa and Florence came looking for silver. Working carried on intermittently for the next seven centuries, but the real scale came late: the bulk of production was in the second half of the 20th century, when the Mogul company ran a major zinc and lead operation before mining finally stopped in 1992.
What’s left is unusually legible in the landscape. Spoil heaps and tailings ponds still dominate the ground north of the village – so much so that pollution from the tailings became a threat to the local water supply in the 21st century, a reminder that this heritage isn’t all picturesque. The Old Smelting House, now a ruin, is a protected structure on the county council’s register. Silvermines also earned a small place in geological literature: the term ‘Irish-type’ zinc-lead deposit was coined for the orebodies here in a 1978 paper that won a Silver Medal from the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Walking and trails
The Silvermine Mountains carry everything from a short forest loop to a full hill day.
Knockanroe Woods loop
If you’ve got a couple of hours, this is the one to do. The Silvermines–Knockanroe loop is a 4.1 km circuit with about 150m of climbing, waymarked with purple arrows on a yellow background, and takes roughly two hours. It briefly shares ground with the Slieve Felim Way before climbing to good vantage points over the old mining landscape and Keeper Hill. Dog-friendly throughout.
Keeper Hill (Sliabh Cimeálta)
At 695m, Keeper Hill is the highest point in the Shannon region, and on a clear day the reward is a long view across to Lough Derg and the Arra Hills. It’s a proper hill walk, exposed at the top and boggy underfoot after rain, so pick your day and your footwear. Check the forecast before you set out; there’s nothing on the mountain if the weather turns.
Slieve Felim Way
Silvermines is the northern end of this 43 km National Waymarked Trail, which runs down through the Silvermine and Slieve Felim ranges to Murroe in County Limerick. It’s usually walked over two days, and the village makes a natural start or finish.
Getting there and practical info
- By car: Silvermines is on the R499, about 12 km south of Nenagh, with clear signs and open rural roads.
- By bus: Since March 2025, Local Link route 854 runs several journeys a day – including Sundays and public holidays – linking the village with Nenagh and Roscrea. Bus Éireann route 323 stops in the village on Fridays only, on the Newport–Nenagh run.
- Parking: Free lay-bys and trailhead car parks at the loop starts and near the village centre; arrive early on summer weekends.
- What to bring: Waterproofs, layers, water and a map or GPX file. There are no refreshment stops on the mountain trails, though the Silvermines Bar & Lounge covers a post-walk pint in the village.
Nearby
- Arra Hills: A short drive north-east, with marked trails and views over Lough Derg.
- Devil’s Bit Mountain: The flat-topped peak to the south-west, with a well-signposted loop and the legend that gave it its name.
- Cahir Castle: About 30 km south-west, one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Ireland – an easy half-day if the legs have had enough of hills.
If you’re carless, plan around the Local Link 854 timetable; if you’re heading up Keeper Hill, plan around the weather, because the summit is bare and the ground holds water.