An Irish mining company says it has found gold deposits in soil near Rockcorry in Co Monaghan.

In a statement released this morning, Conroy Gold said it has discovered "an extensive 700m by 300m gold-in-soil anomaly".

It revealed four gold-in-soil samples above 20 parts per billion, and a further five above 10 parts per billion.

These were located within the 50Km gold trend that the company has outlined.

It lies approximately 14kms southwest of Clontibret - where the firm hopes to develop its first gold mine in the area.

"Its position in relation to the company's Glenish and Slieve Glah gold targets adds further evidence as to the continuity of this gold trend which runs from Co Armagh across Counties Monaghan and Cavan", the statement says.

This deposit lies along a major geological structure, known as the Orlock Bridge Fault.

Chairman Professor Richard Conroy said: "This discovery confirms the gold potential of the company's licences in the area lying between the company's existing gold targets to the northwest at Clay Lake, Clontibret, where a mine is being developed, and Glenish, as well as those to the South at Slieve Glah".