^Ije girt^lj |laturaltJ$t. 



Vol. II. JULY, 1893. No. 7. 



THE BEAUTY AND USE OF IRISH BUILDING 



STONES. 



BY PROF. GRHNVIIvLK A. J. COI,]^, M.R.I. A., F.G.S. 



(Substance of a Lecture delivered in Dublin before the Irish Industrial Leaoiie, 



iTfth Febj-uaiy, 1893.) 



{Concluded from page 171.) 



Foreign competition demands the cheapening of the carriage 

 of some of the central and west Irish stones ; perhaps more 

 favourable terms might be made if a constant supply could be 

 guaranteed. 



So much, however, for generalities. When we consider 

 particular stones, we see how Ireland, at any rate, has little 

 need to import either her structural or ornamental materials. 

 The homogeneous firm grey limestone, that of Ballinasloe for 

 example, is capable of extensive use in our street architecture. 

 Mr. Drew's handsome Ulster Bank in Dublin, with its rich 

 Roman carving, shows how this stone may be used either 

 massively or for elaborate ornament. Though by tradition we 

 may respect the Portland stone of the Parliament House or 

 Trinity College, there can be no question as to the possi- 

 bilities of native limestone. As an easily worked structural 

 material, the commoner limestones, both grey and "calpy," 

 have been largely utilised, as in the railway-bridges, or in such 

 massive blocks as Messrs. Boland's Flour Mills, on the Grand 

 Canal. The latter building is an example of the simplest 

 severity ; practical stone-cutters will know how much or how 

 little it would have cost to run one or two string-courses round 

 it, with good hand- carving in them, just sufficient to remind 

 Ringsend of the possibilities of commercial architecture, and 



A 



