The name Ormonde Mining was derived in 1996 when the company was based in Kilkenny, Ireland. Kilkenny, the only inland city in Ireland and the capital of Ireland for the Gaelic-Norman side during the Confederation - Parliamentarian wars of 1641-1653, was the seat of the Butlers, the Earls of Ormonde and the company name was taken from this head office location.

Ormonde was one of the three kingdoms of Munster, as is depicted by the three crowns on the coat-of-arms of Munster (as shown on the Munster Rugby Club coat-of-arms), the other kingdoms being Desmond and Thomond (as in Thomond Park). These three names, Desmond, Thomond and Ormonde are anglicisations of the Gaelic names, Deas Mhuman, Tuadh Mhuman and Urh Mhuma, which translate, respectively, as South Munster, North Munster and East Munster. Deas Mhuman (Desmond) was originally the kingdom of the MacCarthys, while Tuadh Mhuman (Thomond) was the seat of the O’Brien’s, both kingdoms eventually being subsumed  into the Earldom of Desmond , (the seat of the Fitzgerald’s), and the Earldom of Ormonde, (the seat of the Butler’s).

Consequently a direct translation of Ormonde Mining Plc would be “East Munster Mining Plc”.

In completing the background it should be noted that the name Munster derives from a pre-Christian goddess, Muma. The full English name incorporates the original Gaelic, together with the Norman suffix "-ster", which is related to the modern French terre, meaning "land".

Barruecopardo Tungsten Project

Ormonde’s 100% owned Barruecopardo Tungsten Project in western Spain is one of the premier undeveloped tungsten projects in the World.  Production is planned for late 2012, to initially produce ~ 8% of non-Chinese global mine production. Operations to be expanded post start-up to become a major long life mine. For more information please click here

La Zarza Project

La Zarza is a large “massive sulphide” deposit containing significant copper, gold and zinc resources, located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt mining district of southwest Spain. An expanded exploration programme targeted at defining a large copper resource is being funded through a Joint Venture with major copper producer Antofagasta Minerals S.A. For more information please click here

Salamanca & Zamora Gold Exploration

Ormonde considers the Salamanca-Zamora area to be one of the most prospective gold terrains in Spain and is exploring this region for gold mineralisation associated with granites intruded into a variable sequence of meta-sediments. Ormonde's permits cover mineral prospects and occurrences with potential for high-grade vein-hosted and large, bulk tonnage low-grade deposits. For more information please click here

Kerr Anderson-Managing Director

A geologist by profession, Kerr has worked in the mining and exploration industry in Europe for over 20 years. He has worked extensively in Spain on gold and base-metal projects. He was exploration manager with Navan Mining plc prior to joining Ormonde as Managing Director in May 2001.

John Carroll-Company Secretary & Non-Executive Director

John is a chartered secretary with over 30 years experience including seven years as a manager with KPMG in the Investment Company Department. He has widespread business contacts in Ireland and significant experience in the resource sector. He was appointed Company Secretary in March 2005. John is on the Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee.

Mike Donoghue-Executive Chairman

A mining engineer by profession, Mike has wide experience in the evaluation, funding, development and operation of mines in Europe, Africa, South-East Asia, Australia and the Americas. His executive management experience includes an eight-year period as General Manager - Operations for Delta Gold NL, Australia. Mike was appointed Chairman of Ormonde in April 2004. He is on the Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee.

Steve Nicol-Chief Operating Officer

Steve is a mining engineer with over 20 years experience in the mining industry, initially in operations and subsequently in mine evaluation and development projects. He has held production supervisory roles in various underground and open pit mines in Australia and Europe, culminating in a two year period as Managing Director of Sardinia Gold Mines SpA in Italy. Prior to joining Ormonde, Steve had been operating as an independent consultant working on gold and base metal mine evaluation projects in Romania, Greece, Italy, Guinea, Kazakhstan, Canada and the Congo. Steve was appointed to the Board in April 2008.

Issued Shares: 339,108,959

Free Float: 96.2%

The Company has been informed that, in addition to the interests of the Directors (see below), the following shareholders own 3% or more in the issued share capital of the Company as at 24/05/2011. 

JP Morgan Asset Management (UK) Limited:  6.63%
BlackRock Inc.                                                        5.47%
Jupiter Asset Management:                                 5.39% 
Fidelity International (FIL Ltd):                             5.06%
Saracen Fund Managers Limited:                      4.50%

Michael Donoghue:  2.84%
John Carroll:              0.63%
Kerr Anderson:          0.27%
Stephen Nicol:           0.03%

Please note that Ormonde Mining plc is not a UK incorporated company and the rights of shareholders may be different from the rights of shareholders in a UK incorporated company.

Updated from company website 16.11.11

For further information regarding shareholders please click here