Page "County Leitrim" Paragraph 49

Working of the county's rich deposits of iron ore began in the 15th century and continued until the mid 18th century.

Coal mining became prominent in the 19th century to the east of Lough Allen in Sliabh an Iariann and also to the west in Arigna, on the Roscommon border.

The last coal mine closed in July 1990 and there is now a visitor centre.

Sandstone was also quarried in the Glenfarne region.

William Butler Yeats spent the turn of the twentieth century fascinated with Lough Allen and much of Leitrim.

In the northwest, 11 km from Manorhamilton can be found Glencar Waterfall, which was an inspiration to Yeats and is mentioned in his poem The Stolen Child.