Arigna was, until its recent closedown, Ireland's only coal-mining centre. Arigna Valley is green and beautiful, and not in any way the kind of bleak and dusty place one associate with coal-mining activity.

Arigna also hosts one of the most fascinating historic walking trails in Ireland: the Arigna Miner's Way. The Miner's Way and Historical Trail form a network of walking paths, which wind their way through adjoining parts of counties Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo. The Miner's Way follows many of the paths used by the miners going to work in the Arigna coalmines. The Arigna Miner's Way including all links is 62 km (39 miles) in length and ascends some 1300 metres. The Historical Trail is 56 km (35 miles) in length and ascends some 850 metres.

Both trails are most suitable for a week's walking, and the visitor can pick and choose which sections to walk. For those who wish to walk further afield, both routes link to the Cavan Way at Dowra and thence to the Ulster Way. It is also possible to link with the Sligo Way and thence to the Western Ways also.

For more info on the Miners Way visit http://www.arignaminerswayandhistoricaltrail.com

Greenways Festival 2003

Arigna is talking part in the Greenways Festival in summer 2003 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the legendary 1603 march of O’Sullivan Beara from the Beara Peninsula to the Breifne area. Click here for info on the events