{"id":18543,"date":"2021-10-05T19:29:25","date_gmt":"2021-10-05T23:29:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=18543"},"modified":"2021-10-05T19:34:06","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T23:34:06","slug":"fwd-episode-440-bunmahon-mining-exploration-repeated-episode-67we-crawled-through-a-hole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=18543","title":{"rendered":"Fwd: EPISODE 440 BUNMAHON \u2026 MINING EXPLORATION REPEATED EPISODE 67\u2026WE CRAWLED THROUGH A HOLE"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>NOTE: THIS IS A REPEAT OF EPISODE 67\u2026AT PRESENT I AM TRANSCRIBING MY DIARY&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"\">WHICH GIVES A MORE PERSONAL VIEW OFTHE SUMMER OF 1960. &nbsp;SOME OF YOU NEVER<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">GOT THE EARLY EPISODES SO THIS FLASHBACK WILL HELP. A BIGGER HELP WOULD BE<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">FINDING A COPY OF \u201cTHE QUIET MAN\u201d TO HELP SET THE SCENE. &nbsp;REALLY? &nbsp;YES, REALLY.<br class=\"\"><\/p>\n<div>alan<\/div>\n<div><br class=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote type=\"cite\" class=\"\">\n<div class=\"\">Begin forwarded message:<\/div>\n<p><br class=\"Apple-interchange-newline\"><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;\" class=\"\"><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">From: <\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;\" class=\"\">Alan Skeoch &lt;<a href=\"mailto:alan.skeoch1@gmail.com\" class=\"\"><a href=\"mailto:alan.skeoch1@gmail.com\" >alan.skeoch1@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>&gt;<br class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;\" class=\"\"><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">Subject: <\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">EPISODE 440 BUNMAHON \u2026 MINING EXPLORATION REPEATED EPISODE 67\u2026WE CRAWLED THROUGH A HOLE<\/b><br class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;\" class=\"\"><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">Date: <\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;\" class=\"\">October 5, 2021 at 7:16:22 PM EDT<br class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;\" class=\"\"><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);\" class=\"\"><b class=\"\">To: <\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;\" class=\"\">Alan Skeoch &lt;<a href=\"mailto:alan.skeoch1@gmail.com\" class=\"\"><a href=\"mailto:alan.skeoch1@gmail.com\" >alan.skeoch1@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>&gt;<br class=\"\"><\/span><\/div>\n<p><br class=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"\">\n<div class=\"gmail-custom-header\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-bottom:72px\">\n<div class=\"gmail-site-branding\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;padding:3em 0px;margin-bottom:0px\">\n<div class=\"gmail-wrap\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:1000px;padding-left:3em;padding-right:3em\">\n<div class=\"gmail-site-branding-text\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; clear: none; font-size: 2.25rem; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0.08em; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); opacity: 1;\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/\" rel=\"home\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration:none;opacity:1\" class=\"\">ALAN SKEOCH<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 1rem; opacity: 0.8;\" class=\"\">Alan&#8217;s Oeuvre<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-navigation-top\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(238,238,238);border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(238,238,238);font-size:0.875rem;width:1324px\">\n<div class=\"gmail-wrap\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:1000px;padding:0.75em 2em\">\n<div class=\"gmail-menu-top-menu-container\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\n<ul id=\"gmail-top-menu\" class=\"gmail-menu\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:none;border:0px\">\n<li id=\"gmail-menu-item-18\" class=\"gmail-menu-item-object-custom gmail-menu-item-type-custom gmail-menu-item gmail-menu-item-home gmail-menu-item-18\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;border:0px;display:inline-block\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(34,34,34);text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;display:block;padding:1em 1.25em\" class=\"\">Home<\/a><\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li id=\"gmail-menu-item-19\" class=\"gmail-menu-item-object-page gmail-menu-item gmail-menu-item-19 gmail-menu-item-type-post_type\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;border:0px;display:inline-block\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?page_id=8\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(34,34,34);text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;display:block;padding:1em 1.25em\" class=\"\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-site-content-contain\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit;\">\n<div id=\"gmail-content\" class=\"gmail-site-content\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;padding:5.5em 0px 0px\">\n<div class=\"gmail-wrap\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:1000px;padding-left:3em;padding-right:3em\">\n<div id=\"gmail-primary\" class=\"gmail-content-area\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;float:left;width:524.3125px\">\n<div class=\"entry-meta\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(118,118,118);font-size:0.6875rem;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:0.1818em;padding-bottom:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\"><span class=\"gmail-posted-on\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><span class=\"gmail-screen-reader-text\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;border:0px;height:1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;width:1px;word-wrap:normal\">POSTED ON<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=4926\" rel=\"bookmark\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(118,118,118);text-decoration:none\" class=\"\">JUNE 17, 2020<span class=\"gmail-byline\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;display:inline\">&nbsp;BY&nbsp;<span class=\"gmail-vcard gmail-author\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><a class=\"gmail-url gmail-n gmail-fn\" href=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?author=1\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;text-decoration-skip:objects;color:rgb(118,118,118);text-decoration:none\">TERRAVIVA<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;font-size:1.625rem;margin:0px 0px 0.25em;clear:both;line-height:1.4;padding:0px;font-weight:300\">Fwd: EPISODE 67 BUNMAHON, IRELAND \u201cWE CAN CRAWL INTO THE OLD MINE THROUGH A HOLE\u201d<\/h1>\n<div class=\"entry-content\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\">\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/p>\n<div style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;\" class=\"\"><br class=\"webkit-block-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<blockquote type=\"cite\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:1.125rem;font-style:italic;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\">EPISODE 67 &nbsp; BUNMAHON , IRELAND\u201d \u201cWE CAN CRAWL INTO THE OLD MINE THROUGH A HOLE\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">UNDERGROUND WITH BARNEY DWAN<\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/p>\n<blockquote type=\"cite\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:1.125rem;font-style:italic;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">alan skeoch<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">June 2020<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-95654E47-756C-4138-BB91-2E20433490A9\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/S3rWOYqOQ3W5tHSnZ773cg_thumb_98824.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">BARNEY &nbsp;DWAN\u2026\u201dI KNOW HOW &nbsp;TO GET INTO THE OLD MINE\u201d<\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/p>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-98C747CD-16B3-4BE0-9326-A6A9852F9A76\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_20ec7.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">THE &nbsp;RUINS OF THE KNOCKMAHON MINE<\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/p>\n<blockquote type=\"cite\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:1.125rem;font-style:italic;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-8A97D8D8-9366-4D0D-B566-66E9FB913601\" class=\"gmail-\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bR5r5SDTc6gQyqMsXSvSg_thumb_20fd9-2.jpg\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">THE HOLE BARNEY FOUND\u2026LED INTO THE OLD MINE<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cI know where there\u2019s a hole.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cA hole ?\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cYes,, a hole in the cliff.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cSo?\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cSo we can squeeze through the hole and get into the old mine.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cYou must be kidding, Barney\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cNo, &nbsp;I\u2019ve crawled &nbsp;into the hole many times.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cCuriosity.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cCan you take me there?\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\u201cSure, this Saturday if you want.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">SATURDAY JULY 23,1960<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">Note: &nbsp;Saturday July 23, 1960, I was told &nbsp;by Barney Dawn that it was<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">possible tp squeeze through an old adit (an air vent) and actually enter<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">te Knockmaon mine. &nbsp; This event was a climax point in the Bunmahon<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">adventure. &nbsp; I had a choice.&nbsp; Take a risk and enter the mine.&nbsp; Or<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">play &nbsp;it safe and &nbsp;do &nbsp;nothing other than our surface work.&nbsp; I chose<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">the risk taking venture.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Because I was 21 years old\u2026young<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">and foolish.&nbsp; Adventure seeking.&nbsp; Crawling through that air vent<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">was not part of my job so, at first, &nbsp;Barney, Andy and I did &nbsp;it on evenings<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">or Sundays.&nbsp; Later both John Hogan and Dr. John Stam decided<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">to get involved in underground exploration when we were made<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">aware of a legend lost cow in an old mine entrance inland from<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">the sea. &nbsp; The results of that venture were startling.<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">So I have decided to give these ventures special consideration\u2026and<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">a special heading. &nbsp; A question for you to think about: Would you crawl<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">through that hole in the cliff face? &nbsp; Would you do it when you were 21?<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">GOING UNDERGROUND WITH BARNEY&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-1D09C499-147E-40B5-95EA-E520A37B8A28\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hd7cs70HRUikqBR3pFWA_thumb_20dcf-1.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\">That\u2019s Barney Dwan relaxing on the cliffs he knew so well.&nbsp; Just above him, almost invisible, is the entrance to our first underground<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">mine adventure.<br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/p>\n<div style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;\" class=\"\"><br class=\"webkit-block-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\">\u201cSee the hole up there?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cLooks like a break in the cliff face.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cWe can crawl in there quite a distance but<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">we\u2019ll need flashlights.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cAnd &nbsp;maybe candles just in case the air turns bad.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cAnd hard hats in case of trouble.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cTrouble?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cThere are places &nbsp;where the ceiling has collapsed..we may &nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">have to crawl over the rubble\u2026some might be loose.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cBarney, let\u2019s just keep our options open\u2026if we find &nbsp;a collapse we can<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">back our way out. &nbsp; If we crawl over a collapse then escape is less likely<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">in case of trouble.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cFine.&nbsp; Only one touchy area and I\u2019ve squeezed over it several times.&nbsp; Safe<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">I would &nbsp;say.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-2A48E0F5-9A16-41F2-A8CA-2B04486F8FB4\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/TNG7WfiT8CxxG7pzOw3w_thumb_20fd1.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Initially John Stam and john Hogan were not aware of &nbsp;the mine adits.&nbsp; When &nbsp;they discovered we could check &nbsp;out anomalies<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">easier than digging trenches they became interested.&nbsp; Which &nbsp;led to the legend of cow (still to come).<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">(And so it began.&nbsp; Exploration of a different sort.&nbsp; I did not make a big deal &nbsp;of our<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">plan to Dr. Stam or John Hogan.&nbsp; Sort of a casual mention about an old mine adit<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">perhaps\u2026\u201dhalfway &nbsp;up the cliff &nbsp;face directly below the mine ruins\u201d.&nbsp; Working underground<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">in abandoned &nbsp;mines was not a new experience.&nbsp; I spent a couple of weeks &nbsp;underground<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">at Can Met uranium &nbsp;mine at Elliot Lake.&nbsp; That was exciting especially when our<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">flashlights were turned off. &nbsp; Darkness like I &nbsp;had &nbsp;never seen before. &nbsp;\u201cSeen\u201d is the wrong<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">word.&nbsp; We got down deep in the mine using an elevator though.&nbsp; In mining parlance the term<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">is \u2018cage\u2019 which has a foreboding ring to it. a stope as ceiling bolts gave way and a ceiling<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">collapsed.&nbsp; Never close to us though. The pillars had been pulled as the mine was vacated.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Yes, disconcerting.&nbsp; But Underground at Can Met there gave us<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">lots of room.&nbsp; Room enough for mining machines to move along the passageways.&nbsp; Like a&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">highway.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">In the Yukon we found some old mine workings that were hand dug but never really deep.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Inside the walls were protected from collapse because the &nbsp;overburden was frozen deep enough.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">That job was exciting in its own way.&nbsp; Gold dust could be panned &nbsp;and a few specks I sent<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">to Marjorie on strips of black electric tape.&nbsp; More interesting to me on that job was the presence<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">of mastodon or hairy mammoth tusks and &nbsp;bones. &nbsp; The owner of Dublin Gulch had a pile of them leaning against his<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">cabin.&nbsp; He gave me a mammoth &nbsp;tooth about the size of a baseball glove.&nbsp; Somebody stole it my first<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">year teaching at Parkdale C.I.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Underground at Knockmahon was considerably more intimidating because we could not stand up.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">At times we walked hunched over.&nbsp; At other times we crawled on all fours.&nbsp; And, one, just once,<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">we squeezed on our stomachs through an area where the tunnel (the adit) had collapsed.&nbsp; Squeezed is the&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">right word as &nbsp;you can see in the picture.&nbsp; Just enough room to get to the other side.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">I am not sure how far we got. &nbsp; Perhaps to one of the vertical shafts. &nbsp; At least I think that<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">was what we found.&nbsp; We &nbsp;were crawling along the horizontal adit and came upon a larger<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">shaft that went straight down vertically. &nbsp; There was an old mine ladder lying across&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the shaft which we crawled over.&nbsp; Sounds dangerous but the danger was minimal because<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the shaft was filled with water.&nbsp; The water was clear as &nbsp;daylight in Our flashlight beams.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">I think this shaft went down deep.&nbsp; Perhaps 300 meters.&nbsp; A long way down.&nbsp; At the bottom<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">there would be passageways &nbsp;that went under the Atlantic Ocean for some distance according<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">to mine records &nbsp;at neighbouring Tankardstown Mine. &nbsp; Pumps were installed to try and<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">keep the mine dry.&nbsp; Sort of dry.&nbsp; When mining was abandoned in the 1870\u2019s the ocean<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">flooded all the deep workings. &nbsp; (P.S.&nbsp; A video has been made of the passageways and stopes<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">of the Tankardstown mine.&nbsp; Just search he internet.)<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-039DCC9A-389D-4B23-8BDE-5F2A601FF52E\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/nZ0diHLVTQGEQMrk7FI3Sg_thumb_20e95.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">This &nbsp;ladder crosses the deep &nbsp;shaft in the mine that bottomed &nbsp;out about 300 meter below.&nbsp; We used the ladder to cross<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the shaft.&nbsp; It was not as &nbsp;dangerous as &nbsp;it looked because the shaft was filled with crystal clear water. &nbsp; We could swim across if<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">we so desired.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Barney, Andy and I crossed he shaft and continued deeper into the mine where we found<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">some abandoned &nbsp;mine tools\u2026shovels I seem to remember.&nbsp; I think we reached the main<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">shaft through which the ore was lifted but I cannot be sure.&nbsp; That was a long time ago.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Five years later, in 1965, I brought Marjorie and my brother to Bunmahon and &nbsp;we crawled<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">back in this adit for a short way.&nbsp; I think we stopped where the roof had collapsed.&nbsp; By then<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Marjorie had backed out remarking \u201cThis is crazy,\u201d or some similar remark.&nbsp; She climbed<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">down the seashore and waited for Eric and I to emerge.&nbsp; There was one terrible stink<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">where Marjorie sat on a rock.&nbsp; A big dead pig had floated in from the sea &nbsp;or fallen off<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the cliff. &nbsp; Marjorie did not smell a thing because she was so worried &nbsp;we would &nbsp;never<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">emerge.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-8B10D156-D019-44FA-AE53-69C3194BD231\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_20ee9.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Below the cliffs were the broken bodies of &nbsp;animals that fell.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">This adit was remarkably beautiful inside.&nbsp; In many places the walls were green from<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Oxidized chalcopyrite &nbsp; &nbsp;In other place a deep &nbsp;dark blue.&nbsp; And &nbsp;still others were pinkish.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Samples have been removed &nbsp;and photographed by the Copper Coast tourist promoters<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">and displayed today (2020) since the site has become attractive to the general public.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">It is even possible to go deep in the mine on escorted tours that must provide access &nbsp;from<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the main &nbsp;shaft area.&nbsp; I am not sure if the mine has been drained but doubt it.&nbsp; That would<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">cost too much &nbsp;money for the limited &nbsp;number of people that might be interested.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">In 1960, when Barney and I got out of the adit, I told Dr. Stam &nbsp;and John Hogan<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">about the colours on the adit walls. &nbsp; They tried &nbsp;to see if the old adit linked up with<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">some of the anomalies &nbsp;we found. &nbsp; We were already hiring crews to dig surface<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">trenches to check &nbsp;out anomalies.&nbsp; Barney\u2019s \u2018secret\u2019 tunnels did the same thing with<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">less effort.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cAny more adits along the coast, Barney?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cYes.&nbsp; There are two big ones almost directly behind &nbsp;Kirwin\u2019s pub.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cSafe?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cThink so\u2026people once hid out in one of them.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cHid?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cTime of the Trouble in the 1920\u2019s\u2026IRA men &nbsp;lived there\u2026stored<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">their weapons in one of them.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cWho knows about them?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cEveryone knows but they do not tell strangers.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cLet\u2019s take a look.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-5E49870A-5603-469B-9FE6-1100E1867A0D\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Oit3I0lWRz6Elj8SZx0Xg_thumb_20c3a.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Can you find the adit holes here?<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-43ACCCDD-4098-4288-96E9-D2202FACE9C8\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/PastedGraphic-1-1.tiff\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">This was an entrance at sea level.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-9BC4AE8C-D813-4998-813A-67A62B41FB73\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/AklfT7odRDeZQ4V7mQUwZA_thumb_20fdb.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Almost beside Bunmahon beach there was a huge gouge<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">in the rock.&nbsp; Sort of a cave. &nbsp; At the end of the cave was a<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">hole about five feet from the ground.&nbsp; Small hole.&nbsp; Smaller than<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the other adit. &nbsp; Not far inside it opened into a larger<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">room and then continued horizontally.&nbsp; We did &nbsp;not go<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">much &nbsp;deeper because the second &nbsp;adit was &nbsp;much &nbsp;more<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">interesting according to Barney.So &nbsp;we moved along to<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">another, larger hole, about 6 feet above the ocean.&nbsp; High enough that<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the storm waves would not be a problem.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-EB50B95A-6CE5-4879-A5ED-138EFD00BF7E\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/QccEje9YTCtX4EODtVHPQ_thumb_20fd0.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Here are three entrances.&nbsp; The second &nbsp;from bottom was the entrance we used lest the<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">sea tide flood the other while we were inside.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cWow!&nbsp; The adit leads &nbsp;into this &nbsp;large open room\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cAngled room\u2026piles &nbsp;of broken rock\u2026with some kind<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">of iron machinery at the bottom\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cWhat\u2019s down there?\u201d\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cMay have been an ore crusher\u2026not sure what is down at the bottom.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cIs the place stable?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cDon\u2019t know.&nbsp; Want to try to cross over\u2026.the adit continues on the other side.?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cSure\u2026but slowly\/\u201c<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">(We had entered to large room about midway up the wall.&nbsp; In front of us was<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">jumble of rocks with a 45 degree slope.&nbsp; To reach the adit on the other side<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">we had to cross this talus &nbsp;slope.&nbsp; We did &nbsp;so &nbsp;carefully.&nbsp; But not careful enough.)<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cDamn\u2026damn\u2026damn\u2026the rocks are moving\u2026the whole<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">slope is tumbling down\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cStand still\u2026do not move.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cTrouble. Can we turn around?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cMovement is slowing down.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cTurn around\u2026see if we can get back to the adit.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">(We made it back. &nbsp; The rock &nbsp;slide had taken us &nbsp;down a few<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">feet before the ricks &nbsp;got hung up. )<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cLet\u2019s get out of here.&nbsp; Is this the IRA &nbsp;hideout?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cSo I was &nbsp;told.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cOn the other side of the loose rock.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cis this your first time in here, Barney?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cNo.&nbsp; But first time I tried to cross the boulders.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cAre you putting me on, Barney?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cJust saying what I was &nbsp;told.&nbsp; Apparently they&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">lived here\u2026even had &nbsp;a stovepipe hole to let smoke<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">of &nbsp;cooking and fireplace out above.\u201d\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cOn the other side of the rock slope?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cApparently.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cHow did &nbsp;they get across &nbsp;when we could not?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cBeas me.&nbsp; I do not know.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">(That was &nbsp;the end of seascape explorations. &nbsp; &nbsp;Are the holes<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">sealed &nbsp;up &nbsp;now?&nbsp; Probably. But I do not know. Tourists who want to&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">enter Knockmahon mine must have an escort and &nbsp;prior booking.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Barney Dwan is no loner available. &nbsp; &nbsp;But Barney\u2019s influence on<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">our project was not over yet.&nbsp; His &nbsp;biggest contribution came one<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">day when I mentioned we had a big anomaly up a boreen (valley)<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">about a mile or two North West of Bunmahon.)<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-6AFBCC5A-5D9B-4BEE-84F7-9CC052FE9728\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/VcyELkasT1qaF2aWsdh34A_thumb_20c65-1.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Trenches were done at several locations just to check out the geology beneath anomalies<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">we discovered with the Turam.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cWell. Master Skeoch, there is a story about that place.. Once<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">around 1900 there was a mine opening dug into the hill.&nbsp; But<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">it\u2019s not there anymore because the farmer lost a cow in the<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">mine so he had the opening covered up with dirt and rocks<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Now it\u2019s overgrown with gorse and brush but I can show you<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the spot.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cJohn, we got big anomaly over there, Barney<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">says there was once a min opening.&nbsp; Legend &nbsp;about<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">a lost cow.&nbsp; Is it worth checking out.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cMay as well. \u201c<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cChasing a legend?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cLet\u2019s do it\u2026Get one of the boys to dig there\u2026will take<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">a few days\u2026may prove nothing.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cDig here\u2026clear the brush and dig straight into<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the hill for few feet\u2026see &nbsp;what you can find.\u201d\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cJust me?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cyes, &nbsp;you will likely find nothing\u2026then again you<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">might find a mine opening\u2026maybe even a dead cow.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">(We all found this venture quite amusing.&nbsp; But there was an&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">anomaly \u2026 and &nbsp;a &nbsp;legend. &nbsp; We did not hear anything for<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">two or three days.&nbsp; Then one of the men came to the Kennedy<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">house.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-D728D525-08FD-439A-B0EA-AC48AC8109CE\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5DR9PNduRg6TUagaRJ2kpA_thumb_20e90.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Legend had it that a &nbsp;cow disappeared in this &nbsp;old &nbsp;mine adit (horizontal mine opening). &nbsp; The legend<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">led us into one of the great adventures &nbsp;of the job.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-A35CBA38-9D44-4C0A-9554-AEADAB618853\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_20c7a.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">After 3 or 4 days the mine had &nbsp;drained enough for us to enter.&nbsp; John &nbsp;Hogan and Barney Dwan with flashlight.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-8CC430BA-2615-47BB-99F4-42C5120C9917\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_20ed2.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-D02AEAF4-3FC3-4D77-94AA-6EEA65421728\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_20ca7.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Other animals seemed to have been trapped here as well.&nbsp; But where was the cow?<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-0F152B92-071C-4604-9FA5-D4B81DEB59F5\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_20c5e.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">In the still air of a century, crystals had time to form.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-F1DB0E38-BECF-460E-BBE8-8E64445142B3\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_20e9e.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Timbering was OK\u2026not great, but OK.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-15E7DB6F-9DA0-48D4-993B-6CA22BDBE638\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12utPISTK2G6bQktukA_thumb_20c6f-1.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">Most of the legendary mine was slathered &nbsp;with this material.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cHe hit something big.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cWho?\u201d Where?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cDigging job up he boreen\u2026explosive.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cExplosive?\u201d&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cHe was &nbsp;digging when suddenly a river of water blasted &nbsp;out\u2026scared<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">him badly.&nbsp; He ran.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cWhen will he show up for his<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">money yet.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cHe will.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cMust have been quite a scene\u2026shoving the shovel blade into<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">the slil \u2026 then a blast of water under pressure.<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cWhat will we do?\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\u201cLet the shaft drains for a day or so\u2026then we\u2019ll all &nbsp;go up there<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">and take a look.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-2303BCFF-4C5B-4A56-8D12-383E70FA4B87\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/FOLTnoudTv6jU9r5VaaPoA_thumb_20ee3.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">(Everyone was interested &nbsp;in the discovery.&nbsp; We walked inside a few<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">days &nbsp;later.&nbsp; A lot of muck.&nbsp; Deep rust colour.&nbsp; Some crystals that had<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">formed in the stillness of a century.&nbsp; And best of all, we found the cow.&nbsp; She<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">had got wedged in the tunnel\u2026her hips.&nbsp; She could &nbsp;not get<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">out and there she was. Her bones told the story\u2026confirmed the legend.)<\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"box-sizing:inherit\" class=\"\">\n<blockquote type=\"cite\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:1.125rem;font-style:italic;line-height:1.7;margin:0px;overflow:hidden;padding:0px;quotes:\"\" \"\"\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space\">\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"gmail-0273655B-9DEE-4125-B959-3B4F85C91F9A\" src=\"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_20ed3.jpg\" class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 1.5em;padding:0px\" class=\"\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">And, sure &nbsp;enough, there was the cow.&nbsp; Her hip bones must have got caught.&nbsp; And there she died. &nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><br class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail-\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\">END EPISODE &nbsp;67 &nbsp; &nbsp;UNDERGROUND WITH BARNEY DWAN<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"gmail-comments\" class=\"gmail-comments-area\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit;clear:both;padding:5em 0px 0.5em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\">\n<div id=\"gmail-respond\" class=\"gmail-comment-respond\" style=\"box-sizing:inherit\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br class=\"gmail-Apple-interchange-newline\" style=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><br class=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NOTE: THIS IS A REPEAT OF EPISODE 67\u2026AT PRESENT I AM TRANSCRIBING MY DIARY&nbsp; WHICH GIVES A MORE PERSONAL VIEW OFTHE SUMMER OF 1960. &nbsp;SOME OF YOU NEVER GOT THE EARLY EPISODES SO THIS FLASHBACK WILL HELP. A BIGGER HELP WOULD BE FINDING A COPY OF \u201cTHE QUIET MAN\u201d TO HELP SET THE SCENE. &nbsp;REALLY? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18543"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18543\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}