Eco Evolution Blog

The Society of Mills and Millers of Ireland was launched in 2001 to encourage and assist in the preservation and appreciation of mills as part of our industrial, architectural and landscape heritage. There are hundreds of mills and mill sites spread across the country and while many are beautifully refurbished or put to good use, there are also many others which could be restored or renovated while preserving their traditional context. The society aims to promote interest and awareness in this aspect of Ireland’s industrial heritage by building up knowledge and expertise in areas such as law, architecture, renewable energy and manufacturing and making information available through publications, lectures and events.

Ballyminane Traditional Water Mill., BAllindaggin, Enniscorthy

The Mills and Millers of Ireland Summer Event 2016 will take place on June 25th and this year the society will visit the Mills of Enniscorthy and environs.

Meet from 10.30am Holywell House, Enniscorthy, County Wexford

Directions: take New Ross road from Enniscorthy. Within 60km zone, pass former Davis Mill on left & take next left. The entrance to Holywell House is an immediate sharp left  turn.

Bessmount Watermill & Bio-energy centre

11.00am         Registration, Coffee/Tea

11:30am         Visit to Ballyminane Mill, home of Uncle Aidan’s Stoneground flour

12.30am         Bessmount Watermill & Bio-energy centre and presentation by

                       Dr Michael Snoek:  A photographic history of Mills on the River Urrin

1.30-2.30pm  Lunch at Holywell House

3pm                Visit to Kilcarbery Mill

Fee for the day including refreshments and lunch: €25 per person.

Entrance into Kilcarbery Mill

To Book:  Choose option A or B

(A) Please download and complete the booking form here and return with your payment to: Honorary Treasurer Mr Niall Griffin, Ballindud Mill Cottage, Waterford. Cheques made payable to MMOI

or
(B) Pay for the event using the PayPal secure online payment option button. Please select the number of places from the drop down menu.

Telephone enquiries: S. Bourke 087 9699387

The Society of Mills and Millers of Ireland was launched in 2001 to encourage and assist in the preservation and appreciation of mills as part of our industrial, architectural and landscape heritage. There are hundreds of mills and mill sites spread across the country and while many are beautifully refurbished or put to good use, there are also many others which could be restored or renovated while preserving their traditional context. The society aims to promote interest and awareness in this aspect of Ireland’s industrial heritage by building up knowledge and expertise in areas such as law, architecture, renewable energy and manufacturing and making information available through publications, lectures and events.

Old Mill Coffee Shop, Upperlands

The Old Mill Coffee Shop is based in the heart of the Historic Linen Village of Upperlands and opened in March 2013 it is a restored beetling mill bursting with character. The beetling mill is situated beside the coffee shop, this is said to be the only commercial beetling mill in the world!

This year’s Summer event is a one day event taking place on the 04th July in the lovely countryside of County Derry. It’s going to be a very active day with visits to several local mills, a tour of the Beetling Mill in Upperlands and a talk by Mr. Douglas Lamont followed by a visit to the Clark family. After lunch the group will visit Barney and Michael Lagan, Upperlands. Take a look at the timetable to see the list of interesting events that have been organised.

Mills & Millers of Ireland Summer event 2015

Fee for the day including refreshments and lunch: €25 per person.

To book:
(A) Download a booking form here and return to: Hon. Treasurer Mr. John Delaney, Ballingard Road, Roscommon, County Roscommon (Cheques payable to MMOI)

or
(B) Pay for the event using the PayPal secure online payment option button. Please select the number of places from the drop down menu.

Telephone enquiries: S. Bourke

The Society of Mills and Millers of Ireland was launched in 2001 to encourage and assist in the preservation and appreciation of mills as part of our industrial, architectural and landscape heritage. There are hundreds of mills and mill sites spread across the country and while many are beautifully refurbished or put to good use, there are also many others which could be restored or renovated while preserving their traditional context. The society aims to promote interest and awareness in this aspect of Ireland’s industrial heritage by building up knowledge and expertise in areas such as law, architecture, renewable energy and manufacturing and making information available through publications, lectures and events.

This year’s Summer event is a two day event taking place on the 14th and 15th June in the lovely countryside of County Meath. It’s going to be a very active two days with visits to several local mills, Slane Castle, Kells Monastic tour, lectures, baking demonstration and much, much more. Take a look at the timetable to see the list of interesting events that have been organised.

Saturday 14th June:

Sunday 15th June:

Cost of the two day event – €35 per person  or €25 for one day
Includes: Bus transfers, Saturday lunch, visits, coffees and closing food event at Annesbrook Mill.
Dinner on Saturday evening – €25 per person

To book your place:
(A) Download a booking form and return to: Hon. Treasurer Mr John Delaney Ballingard Road, Roscommon, County Roscommon (Cheques payable to MMOI)
or
(B) Pay for the event using the PayPal secure online payment option button. Please select the number of places and the number of days from the drop down menu.

Telephone enquiries: S. Bourke (087) 9699387

During the Summer we spent some time visiting various water mills around Ireland with The Mills and Millers of  Ireland – the society for the preservation of ancient and traditional Irish water mills. We have visited several mills over the years and Riverdale Water Mill has to be one of the most breathtaking of all the renovated mills we have visited to date.

Situated close to the shores of Lough Neagh on the River Goudy the beautifully restored Riverdale Water Mill is over 200 years old. All its original machinery, including the water wheel itself, is in full working order. Visually breathtaking, Riverdale surpasses all expectations.

Restaurant and Courtyard

The magnificent Water wheel

The working water wheel

The Millrace

The millrace on the right converges with the River Goudy as it leaves the mill pond.

View of barn and sluice gate

The Sluice Gate

The exquisitely landscaped grounds are stunning and full of delightful surprises at every turn. Riverdale Dam is truly a world unto itself , an ideal location for photographs throughout the year.

Stepping stones along the dam

The Goudy river waterfall

The Elevated pond

View of Mill and Mill pond

Enjoying life on the pond

The pathways through the beautifully landscaped gardens

A haven for wildlife

Across the road in the gardens of Riverdale House there is a stone and brick built shower house which was used by the workers at Riverdale Water Mill.  After a long day of  threshing the mill workers would step into the shower and once inside another worker would throw a bucket of water on them from the top of the building.

Frank inspecting the shower

The fully restored farmyard which includes both a restaurant and a barn can accommodate functions such as local heritage events and weddings.

If you are the owner of an old mill or indeed a mill site and would like to find out more please contact us here for further information and we will endevour to point you in the right direction.

All photographs are copyright of Eco Evolution

The Old Mill Wheel

The Old Mill Wheel

The old mill-wheel, it turns, it turns
Throughout the livelong day,
And flings the current of the stream,
Abroad in glist’ning spray:
That old, black wheel has turn’d for years,
Beside the mossy mill,
That stands, like some old, sacred thing,
Beneath the clay-red hill.

The old mill-wheel, it turns, it turns
Like time’s unresting one,
Which day and night, and night and day,
Hath never ceased to run:
The old mill-wheel, an emblem true,
Of Time that ne’er stands still,
I love to see it turning so,
Beside the mossy mill.

The old mill-wheel, it turns, it turns,
As in my childhood’s hour;–
As when I bathed beneath its rim,
In its refreshing shower:
But they who were my comrades then,
Are sleeping on the hill,
And now, to them, forever now,
The old Mill-wheel stands still.

Author: James Avis Bartley

Old Paper Mill in Antrim that once had three waterwheels.

All photographs copyright of Eco Evolution.