Connemara Mining Company has been awarded 10 prospecting licences covering gold, silver and base metals in the Stranorlar region of Donegal. The mining company, which is led by executive chairman John Teeling, founder of Cooley Distillery, will focus its exploration on gold.

According to the company, the Donegal ground was selected by Connemara’s geologists following a “rigorous review of gold opportunities in Ireland”. Historical records of the Donegal area show certain anomalies consistent with gold while the geology shares similarities with the major gold discoveries by Dalradian Resources and others in Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

“The geology of Donegal lies within the highly prospective Dalradian terrane which is also home to the Curraghinalt Gold Deposit in Northern Ireland and the Cononish Mine in Scotland. Traces of gold have been discovered in earlier exploration in Donegal. We were delighted that the Tellus data issued in recent days re-enforces our findings. This is early stage prospecting but the potential is good,” said Mr Teeling, adding that Connemara is “actively involved in the gold renaissance in Ireland”.