The mining and engineering industries

One of the major differences between the Irish and British industrial sectors was the relative lack of mineral wealth in Ireland and the small size of its mining industry. Ireland’s engineering and foundry sector was also relatively small compared to Great Britain where iron and engineering figured prominently in the industrial revolution. This chapter first examines the extent of Ireland’s mineral wealth in a comparative UK context. Second, it focuses on the limited development of iron and engineering in Ireland with a particular focus on the regional variations in the demand for these industries.