The Deerpark Mines, located about 3km north of Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, were the largest opencast coalmines in Ireland producing anthracite, a natural smokeless fuel.

Many of the coalminers lived in the nearby town of Castlecomer, and in the villages of Moneenroe and Clogh.

At peak production in the 1950’s, trains carried 300 tons a day to a depot at Kilkenny station close to the present hardware store called “Chadwicks”.

Each train carried about 100 tons. This would be loaded on from 10 to 15 carriages.

This documentary explores the story of the men who worked these mines until the late 1960s.

Producer Pat Feeley.

First Broadcast 1979.

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