When we think of gold hunting, most of us probably imagine pirates on the high seas, or desperate prospectors rushing to America's west coast during the Gold Rush of the 1800s.
We probably don't think of Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan, or a little-known Government department in charge of prospecting for minerals across Ireland.
But in Ireland, the search for gold isn't limited to folklore and centuries-old stories – not by a long stretch.
Remarkably, companies across Ireland are still prospecting for gold – as well as silver and many other minerals – in townlands all over the country.
The Government regularly grants, or renews, licences that allow companies to search, or prospect, for gold.
These are published in the form of adverts in local newspapers, with a comprehensive list of the exact areas where gold-hunting is going on.
Here the story takes another amazing twist: licences are granted in what are known as "baronies" – subdivisions of Ireland created in the 1500s and almost never used for official purposes today.
There are 331 baronies in Ireland, and gold prospecting takes place in many of them.
In the last seven days, for instance, Minister Ryan has granted five licences for gold prospecting – two in Co Tipperary, two in Co Laois and one in Co Meath – to mineral exploration companies.
And in 2020 alone, the Government has granted or renewed 21 licences for prospecting natural materials across Ireland.
The Minister awards licences in "non-invasive" cases where prospecting will cause "minimal environmental impact".
Members of the public can object to gold-prospecting activities within 30 days of the Government publishing a notice on it.
It is important to note, though, that prospecting for minerals is not the same as mining, although the two are often confused.
Mining is a much bigger deal, and the Government insists that while thousands of prospecting licences have been issued over the years, "only a handful" have led to mining operations.
On the flipside, if you're intrigued by prospecting, you can also apply to the Government for a licence – though it's a costly process, with no guarantee of success, and usually involved industrial equipment.
For that reason, prospecting licences are usually given out to companies rather than individuals.
If a company does get a licence in an area, they can then prospect there for six years before applying for a renewal.
So, now for the question worth its weight in gold: could you be living near the site of gold prospecting? Have a look below to find out.
Townlands in Tipperary where licences have been granted or renewed this week
Townlands in Iffa and Offa East Barony : Ballybeg, Ballyclerahan, Ballycornane, Ballyhimikin, Ballytarsna, Ballyvaheen, Ballyveelish North, Ballyveelish South, Blackcastle, Caherclogh, Carrigawillin, Chancellorstown Upper, Clashavaddra, Clonmore, Cruboge, Currenstown, Decoy, Donaghmore, Drishoge, Garryndrihid, Graigue, Jamestown, Killock, Kilmolash Upper, Kilmore,Knockeevan, Lavally Lower, Lavally Upper, Lisronagh, Moanroe, Moorstown, Mullaghnoney,Mylerstown, Newchapel, Orchardstown East, Orchardstown West, Rahaniskey, Rathnalour, Shanbally, Shanballyard, Woodrooff.
Townlands in Iffa and Offa West Barony : Outeragh, Whiteland.
Townlands in Middlethird Barony : Acrenakirka, Ballinattin Lower, Ballinattin Upper, Ballincor,Ballingeary East, Ballingeary West, Ballinlough, Ballyallavoe, Ballydoyle, Ballygambon, BallygeraldEast, Ballygerald West, Ballyhenebery, Ballylegan, Ballynaclera, Bannamore, Baptistgrange,Barrettsgrange, Barrettstown, Bawnatanvoher, Blackcastle, Brodeen, Caddlestown, Carrigeen,Carrigeensharragh, Castleblake, Castlecoyne, Castlehiggins, Chamberlainstown, Clare More, Clashalaher, Clonacody, Colman (Cramptmore), Colman (Hennessy), Commons, Crampcastle,Crossard, Donegal, Drumdeel, Edenmore, Everardsgrange, Farrankindry, Farranshea, Fethard,Garrandee, Garranlea, Garraun, Garrinch, Glennagat, Gortagea, Graigue, Graigue, Graigue Little,Grange Beg, Grove, Husseystown, Jossestown, Kedrah, Keylong, Killemly, Killerk North, Killerk South,Kiltinan, Knockagh, Knockannaveigh, Knockboordan, Knockbrack, Knockmorris, Knocknaboha,Knocknaquill, Knockskagh, Loughaun, Loughcapple, Loughkent East, Loughkent Lower, LoughkentWest, Madamsland, Maginstown, Marlhill, Milltown Beg, Milltown Britton, Milltown More, MoanBeg, Moan More, Moanbarron, Mocklerstown, Moneypark, Monroe, Moorstown, Mortlestown,Mortlestown Little, Newtown, Newtown, Part Of Kiltinan, Prospect, Rahinaghmore, Rathard,Rathdrum, Rathkenty, Rathmacarty East, Rathmacarty West, Rathmore, Rathsallagh, Redcity,Rockwell, Shortcastle, Sladagh, Spitalfield, Springfield, Stillimity, Strike Lower, Strike Upper,Suttonrath, Tooloone, Tooreen, Tullamain, Tullow, Woodinstown, Annesgift, Arbourhill, Ardsallagh, Ballinard, Ballintemple, Ballybough, Ballycomisk, Ballyduagh, Ballyfowloo, Ballyheens, Ballyherberry, Ballyvadin, Ballyvadlea, Brickendown, Buffanagh, Bullockpark, Caherbaun, Carrigeen, Clonbrogan, Coleraine, Coolanure, Coolmore, Coolmoyne, Coolmoyne (Fennell), Coolmoyne (Taylor), Curraghscarteen, Curraghtarsna, Curraheen, Derryluskan, Farranaleen, Fehoonree, Foulkstown, Garrankyle, Garraun, Garryandrew South, George's-Land, Glengaddy, Glennaslaud, Gorteenshamrogue, Grangeduff, Higginstown, Kilballyherberry, Kilbragh, Kilconnell, Kilknockan, Killistafford, Kilpheak, Kilsallagh, Kilscobin, Knockbrit, Knockkelly, Lowesgreen, Lyonstown, Magorban, Meldrum, Mobarnan, Mocklershill, Monameagh, Peppardstown, Railstown, Railstown, Rathavin, Rathbrit, Rathclogh North, RathcloghSouth, Rathcool, Rathkenny, Rathordan, Rocklow, Rosegreen, Saucestown, Silverfort, Slainstown North, Slainstown South, Stephenstown, Stephenstownbeg, Tinnakilly, Tullowcossaun, Woodhouse.
Townlands in Slievardagh Barony : Ballaghboy, Burnchurch, Knockanglass, Knockforlagh, Moglass.
Townlands in Laois where licences have been granted or renewed this week
Townlands in Clarmallagh Barony : Addergoole, Aghmacart, Aharney, Anster, Archerstown, Baggottspark, Ballinfrase, Ballyboodin, Ballycolla Heath, Ballycolla, Ballydavin, Ballygarvan Glebe, Ballygauge More, Ballygeehin Lower, Ballygowdan, Ballyguage, Ballyhinode, Ballykealy, Ballynafunshin, Ballynevin, Barrackquarter or Ross, Baunoge, Beg, Big, Boherard, Bordwell, Bordwell Little, Braccas, Brocka, Bunlacken, Cannonswood, Capponellan, Castledurrow Demesne, Castlequarter, Castleview, Castlewood, Chapelhill, Clonageera, Clorhaun, Cool, Coolacurragh, Coolbally, Coolcorberry, Coolderry, Coolfin (E.D. Cuffsborough), Coolkerry, Coolnabehy, Course, Court, Cross, Cuffsborough, Cullahill Mountain, Curragh, Dairyhill, Derreen and Carrowreagh, Dunmore, Durrow Townparks, Fearagh, Fermoyle, Friarsland, Galesquarter, Garryduff, Garryniska, Glebe, Gorteen, Gorteenahilla, Graceswood, Graigueagarran, Graigueanossy, Graigueavoice, Grantstown, Grenan, Gurraun, Kilbreedy, Killermogh, Kilminfoyle, Kilnaseer, Knockanoran, Knockfin, Knocknagrally or Kilenny Beg, Kyle, Kylebeg, Kyletilloge, Leap, Legaun, Loughnamuck, Maynebog, Middlemount or Ballyvoghlaun, Middlemount, Moyne, Newtown, Oldglass, Oldtown, Park, Parkbawn, Parknahown, Part of Oldglass, Rahandrick Lower, Rahandrick Upper, Raheenduff, Raheenleagh, Rapla, Rath, Rathmakelly Glebe, Rosconnell Glebe, Scrub and Glenmacolla, Shanbally, Shanvaghey, Spaquarter, Springfield or Knockkyle, Srah, Stewartsgrove, Swan, Tinnaragh, Tinnaraheen, Tintore, Tinwear, Toberboe or Kilkenny More, Tooreagh, Turfarney, Watercastle, Ballycuddahy, Ballygeehin Upper, Ballyowen, Cruell, Farraneglish Glebe, Gortnaclea.
Townlands in Cullenagh Barony : Abbeyleix Demesne, Boley, Brandra, Clonkeen, Clonoghil, Curraghacronacon, Derrylahan, Granafallow, Killamuck, Knapton, Lisbigney, Tullyroe, Ballytarsna, Blackhills, Boley Lower, Poormansbridge.
Townlands in Clandonagh Barony : Farranville.
Townlands in Clarmarragh Barony : Aghaboe, Baunbrack, Carrowreagh, Corraun, Delligabaun, Gortnagroagh, Keelough Glebe, Kildellig, Knockamullin, Palmershill, Skeagh.
Townlands in Maryborough West Barony : Boley Upper, Cappanacloghy, Clondouglas, Derrykearn,Killeany, Scotchrath, Shanahoe, Springmount, Ardlea, Ballynamuddagh, Boston or Coolballyogan, Clonard or Cappaloughlin, Coolnacartan, Derry Beg, Derry More, Dysartbeagh, Fatharnagh, Forest, Forgeland, Knockanina, Mountrath, Rosskelton, Trumra, Barnadarrig, Bawnaree, Clonaddadoran, Clonawoolan, Clonbane, Cloncough, Clonrud, Cloosecullen, Colt, Coole, Corbally, Cromoge, Derryroe, Doon, Foxburrow, Mountfead, Parkavilla, Raheen, Tarbert, Tinnakill.
Townlands in Upperwoods Barony : Badgerisland, Boston, Camcloon, Castletrench, Coole, Corrigeen, Cuddagh, Donore, Kilbrickan, Rathphelan.
Townlands in Cullenagh Barony : Ballinlough, Ballyglishen, Ballymaddock, Ballymullen, Ballypickas Lower or Bernardsgrove, Ballypickas Upper, Ballyroan, Ballyruin, Cloncullane, Crubeen, Derryfore, Dooary, Drumashellig, Island, Knocknamoe, Mounteagle, Raggettstown, Rahanavannagh, Raheenabrogue, Ralish, Rathmoyle, Redhills, Tonduff, Tullore.
Townlands in Meath where licences have been granted or renewed this week
Townlands in Navan Lower Barony : Part of Rathaldron.
