There was indeed a major coalmine in Kilkeny, just outside the town of Castlecomer where I was borm, my father and other relatives worked there, one or two even died there. It was also the richest source of black Marble as mentioned in the song Carrickfergus and much of Kilkenny city's archttecture is built of black marble. Oddly though, I don't know of any Irish coal mining songs.As you say plenty of American and Englih ones. but I will make some enquiries