Sir Henry Gore Booth of Lissadell, Co. Sligo, became involved in the mining of
Barytes in the 1880's. In 1888 he entered a partnership agreement with George
Tottenham of Glenade, Co. Leitrim to mine Barytes on Sir Henry’s lands in
Gleniff. The enterprise was called The Gleniff Barytes Company. The miners
work was hard and dangerous. Every day the workers made their way to the
valley on foot, some travelling long distances. From the washing shed they had
to trek over the steep scree and ascend the vertical ladder, 30m, to reach the mine
entrance. According to local folklore they laboured by candle light and a day's work
was measured by the "length of a penny candle". Conditions would have been
damp and dirty. The Book looks in detail on the mining operation on Ben Bulbin