Approximately “one third” of County Armagh could be approved for mining activities, according to a spokesperson for political party, People Before Profit.
The area earmarked for mining activities includes a large portion of both Keady and Newtownhamilton and has been sought as part of an application for a mineral prospecting licence.
The People Before Profit spokesperson asserted that a series of consultations from the Department for the Economy concluded on April 4 – “with some proposing to okay mining licences” to cover this portion of the county.
The company holding the licence for the area is London-listed firm Conroy Gold, which in 2013 identified a thirty mile “gold district” across Counties Armagh, Monaghan and Cavan.
At that time the company said it had received a further positive mineralogical report citing plans to develop its first operational gold mine at Clontibret in County Monaghan.
The company have since established an operational mine and are now advancing a “Discs of Gold” project in Ireland.
A previous licence had been obtained for the prospecting of minerals in the Armagh area by Conroy Gold in 2019, however, this licence expired on April 7, 2025.
An application form submitted by Conroy Gold in pursuit of their 2025 licence states that the company has identified a “significant” zinc-in-soil anomaly through its “systematic exploration programme”.
It adds: “The area is historically known as the Armagh-Monaghan mining district and contains a substantial number of base metal workings. Lead and copper working are situated within the licence area.”
The application also expresses an intention to explore for precious metals.
Additionally, the Wolf Island area is cited as a “primary target” for the company’s exploration with “positive results from the year 1 programme” indicating a need for follow-up with additional drilling and drill core studies.
The application adds: “Consideration will also be given to any targets identified that are associated with the historic mines in the area, in particular Creggan, where the company believes further investigation is warranted.”
In a separate application covering the Darkley and Keady area, the Mountain Lodge area is also outlined for further investigation, where “the trends of the mineralisation recorded from the historic Aughnagurgan and Tullynawood lead mines appears to converge into a distinctive zinc-in-soil anomaly of c70Ha”.
The company also propose to undertake further analysis by “portable XRF and magnetic susceptibility measurements in the area”.
This area is also marked with an intention to explore for precious metals.
The People Before Profit spokesperson adds: “These [plans] would be to prospect for precious metals, including within our Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Most notably affected in the current plans would be Keady and Newtownhamilton.
“The mining of heavy and precious metals is a controversial affair, as whilst corporations will surely profit, the effects on our environment and community health can be dire.
“Communities are beginning to stir and take note of the lack of engagement or information as regarding these extractavist ventures.
“More investigation needs done but if it is determined Conroy Gold will place the community at risk, stiff opposition can hardly be a surprising outcome.”
The Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Cuncil area contains a total of 55 known abandoned mine workings, associated with historic lead extraction.
A ‘Pre Preferred Options Paper’ provided by DfE to ABC Council in 2018, describes the mines – which generally take the form of “vertical shafts” – as small scale and shallow with the largest concentrations located just south of the town of Keady.
It also explains that where mine workings are located, “underground voids will exist which may create land stability issues”.
It adds: “Development over these areas should only be carried out after adequate assessments have been completed to ensure public safety. A number of the mines within the council area have associated spoil (mine waste) heaps in close proximity to mine entrances which can contain high concentrations of contaminants harmful to the public and environment.
“Landslide occurrences within the council area are not significant. However, they can occur in areas of steep sided slopes, triggered by climatic conditions and human activity during construction projects.”
The paper also adds: “Minerals are essential to support sustainable economic growth and quality of life. It is vital that there is a sufficient supply of raw materials for manufacturing, construction, power generation, transportation and agriculture.
“In the UK trade in minerals and minerals-based products makes up over 20% of total trade, with exports of £66 billion and imports of £85 billion in 2014.”
