SNIPPET: Per Peter Collins, St. Mary's University College, Belfast, a handful of years ago: "Gold mining in Ireland is much less prevalent than the working of alluvial deposits, particularly Avoca, Co. Wicklow. Indeed, the 12th-century Book of Leinster describes the Leinster men as 'Lagenians of the Gold." The Goldmines river area of Avoca was the scene of the 'gold rush' of September 1796, which was abandoned because of the insurrection of 1798. Subsequently unsuccessful attempts were made to locate a 'mother lode' by mining in the area. Gold has also been found in the Sperrins in Co. Tyrone, although recent prospecting to the area has so far been without success."