El Nino Ventures Inc. (TSX.V:ELN) recently commenced diamond drilling on its prospecting licences in Ireland. El Niño currently holds thirteen prospecting licences covering approximately 500 square kilometres within the Central Carboniferous Basin. The Basin is host to several important zinc-lead resources including the three mines (Navan, Galmoy and Lisheen) currently in operation.

This preliminary 4000m drill program will test the two principal target horizons within the Lower Carboniferous limestone stratigraphy. Initial holes will test Navan Bed units on licences near Granard northwest of Dublin. Subsequent holes will test Waulsortian Reef targets on licences located southwest of Dublin.

Ireland's mineral industry took off in the early 1960's with the discovery of the Tynagh zinc-lead-silver deposit in County Galway which was followed by the 1970's discovery of the world class Navan zinc-lead deposit located northwest of Dublin. The high grade Galmoy and Lisheen deposits located southwest of Dublin were discovered in the mid 1980's and 1990 respectively.

Ireland now provides a very significant proportion of Western Europe's zinc/lead concentrate needs.

Jean Luc Roy, President & CEO states, "I am very pleased that our Ireland work program has now started. Exploration in Ireland has increased significantly over the last two years with several companies having success. I look forward to sharing our progress with our shareholders and this program is a testament to our continued efforts to add value to the company for our shareholders".

El Niño Ventures is a junior exploration company, whose corporate objective is to revisit former mining regions and apply the latest technologies to advanced stage exploration targets. El Niño has acquired a 70% interest in over 350 square kilometers in the world renowned copper belt in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to our copper project in the Congo, the company has its project with Xstrata Zinc on the Bathurst mining camps and have started drilling on its Ireland properties. br>