About MHTI

Who were we?

The concept of an Irish Mining History organisation was established in 1995 as a mechanism to celebrate and promote awareness, appreciation and conservation of remains of what is arguably Ireland's oldest industry. This is an industry which commenced more than 7000 years ago during the Stone Age, and which has, right up to the present day, played an intimate and pivotal role in the evolution of human society, culture and economic activity in Ireland - a contribution most eloquently attested in the names given to the earliest phases of human cultural and societal evolution - the Stone, Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages.
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​The organisation evolved significantly, in name and purpose, from its formal inauguration as the Mining History Society of Ireland in 1996. In 2001, it was formally reorganized as the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland Ltd, in order to better position the organisation to avail of funding and other opportunities to achieve its objectives: to embrace and promote an integrated approach to all facets of the history of mining in Ireland - facets which range from history per se, to archaeology, archaeometallurgy, ecology of mine sites, genealogy, fiscal history, surface and underground surveying, site and building conservation, education, and sustainable presentation of extant remains.

Mission statement

The Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland seeks to develop the informed public awareness, appreciation, conservation and enjoyment of all facets of mining heritage throughout Ireland. 
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The objectives of the Trust were: 
  • The general promotion of awareness, appreciation and conservation of the mining heritage of Ireland.
  • To create and maintain an inventory of surface and underground mining remains.
  • To actively participate in, facilitate and promote the surveying and documentation of extant mining heritage.
  • To create and maintain a library of information to assist researchers.
  • To provide an active programme of lectures, field meetings, publications and a newsletter.
  • To undertake general mining history educational activities.
  • To initiate and support mining heritage as tourist amenities.
  • To promote a "Code of Practice" in relation to sites.
  • To provide representation on mining heritage to relevant statutory authorities

Trust Symbol

The Cronebane Token

A shortage of copper currency in Great Britain and Ireland towards the end of the eighteenth century, led to the private manufacture of tokens to the value of one penny and one half penny. Because the quality and weight were of a sufficiently high standard, they were accepted and used as general coinage.
The Hibernian Mine Company and the Associated Irish Mine Company which had mines in west and east Avoca respectively, produced their own tokens. The "Cronebane Token", produced by the AIMC and named after the townland of that name in East Avoca, is probably the most beautiful of all the token coinage of that period.
The first tokens were struck in 1789 at the Soho Works in Birmingham and it is probable that some of the coins were manufactured from Avoca copper. There is a local tradition in Avoca that tokens were manufactured in the valley, but there is little evidence to support this suggestion.
The obverse of the token shows a bust of St Patrick and the reverse a crest and shield of arms, which may be regarded as the Arms of the Company. The shield incorporates crossed shovels, miners picks and a powder horn and is surmounted by a windlass.