Drilling Update

Ormonde Mining PLC
02 June 2005

02 June 2005


                               Ormonde Mining plc

                            La Zarza Drilling Update

DUBLIN & LONDON: 02 June 2005 - Ormonde Mining plc ("Ormonde" or "the Company")
announces the completion of its initial drilling programme at its La Zarza
Gold-Copper Project in southwest Spain and reports assay results received for
holes ORM1, ORM4 and ORM5. The Company also outlines the scope of ongoing and
forthcoming work programmes.

DRILLING PROGRAMME

Seven holes have been drilled over a strike length of some 500 metres, for a
total of 2,530 metres. These holes were principally designed to obtain
representative samples for metallurgical testwork from both gold and copper
resources hosted within the "Silicatado" unit. All holes intersected the
Silicatado, with details as follows:

       Hole           From             Width           Approx. True Width
       ORM1            57               34                     34
       ORM2            257              56                     40
       ORM3            370              17                     15
       ORM4            358              26                     24
       ORM5            161              33                     30
       ORM6            325              29                     20
       ORM7            113              112                    80


Gold and multi-element assay results have been received from holes ORM1, ORM4
and ORM5, with the results from the other four holes pending. In a preliminary
interpretation of the results, intersections presented below have been
classified by mineralization type and gold equivalent grade is also given for
comparative purposes:

   Hole      From       Width          Type          Au g/t       Ag g/t       Cu %       Au equiv.
   ORM5      163.0      17.0           Gold            4.1         40.5         0.4          5.6
   ORM1      77.0        6.0       Copper-Gold         1.2         52.0         2.0          6.3
   ORM4      357.8      11.2          Copper           0.3         25.4         2.1          5.2


(Notes: All lengths are in metres. Widths are approximately true width. Au =
gold, Ag = silver, Cu = copper. Gold equivalents are based on in-situ metal
values using the following prices: $400/oz Au, $7/oz Ag, $2,700/t Cu).

Managing Director of Ormonde, Kerr Anderson commented,

"Our programmes are progressing as planned at La Zarza with drilling
intersecting anticipated intervals of continuous gold, silver and/or copper
mineralization, and we look forward to advancing through the next stages of the
project. In addition to the metallurgical testwork and subsequent economic
scoping study, we will be maintaining the momentum of the drilling throughout
the coming months to investigate previously untested extensions to the current
resources."

METALLURGICAL TESTWORK PROGRAMME

Investigative testwork on composite core samples from both the gold and copper
Silicatado will commence at Wardell Armstrong International, UK, upon receipt of
all assay results. The testwork will be designed to determine gold, silver and
copper recoveries achievable by variable-sized grinding, flotation and cyanide
leaching. Oxidative stages will also be investigated as a possible route to a
maximum gold recovery.

Results from the testwork will be incorporated into an economic scoping study
which will cost the various mining and processing options available to take La
Zarza to production.

DATA COMPILATION AND RESOURCE ESTIMATION

All previous drilling and underground assay data and geological information have
been compiled to generate a 3-dimensional model of the deposit and an initial
block model using Datamine software. Extensive existing underground development,
which could significantly reduce capital costs and development lead times, has
also been captured as part of the data model.

A new resource estimate using varying gold and copper cut-off grades will be
prepared upon receipt and interpretation of all assay data from the drilling
programme. Resources will be classified using the guidelines provided by The
JORC Code (2004).

BACKGROUND TO THE LA ZARZA PROJECT

Ormonde is currently earning a 70 per cent interest in the La Zarza Project by
funding programmes to the value of €1.8 million during a three year period,
under an option agreement with the property owner, Nueva Tharsis S.A.L., signed
in June 2004.

Ormonde's focus at La Zarza is on inferred resources of 5.9 Mt grading 5.0 g/t
gold and 50 g/t silver (950,000 ounces of gold, 9.5 million ounces of silver),
and an adjacent copper resource of 2.9 Mt grading 2.8 % copper (81,000 tonnes of
copper). These resources are hosted by the "Silicatado" rock type. All resources
are open laterally and at depth, and the total mineralized system at La Zarza
has a strike length of over three kilometres.

The deposit is situated within an existing Mining Concession, and the Company
has received early indications of local government support including grants for
investigation works.

Enquiries to:


Kerr Anderson, Managing Director,

Ormonde Mining plc Tel: [phone]


Fraser Gardiner, Investor and Media Relations,

Ormonde Mining plc Mobile: [phone]


Simon Rothschild,

Bankside Consultants Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]


ENDS




BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Ormonde Mining is quoted on the AIM and IEX markets in London and Dublin,
respectively. The Company is focused on acquiring and developing gold projects
in Spain where it has a strong local Spanish management team, supported by a
Board with extensive exploration expertise in the region and mine development
experience.


For more information and contact details including email, please visit
www.ormondemining.com.


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