Kinahan — On Irish Marbles and Limestones. 385 



Longford. 



Near Ballymahon, brown red and mottled-grey stones were 

 formerly worked {Kane) . 



TlPPERARV. 



Near Dunkerrin are recorded stones of red to purplish colour, 

 veined with yellow [Kane) ; but no extensive works seem to have 

 been carried on. Different marbles appear to have been sought 

 after in this county during the time the marble works at Killaloe 

 were in full work. 



BLACK MARBLES. 



[Slack Marbles have been worked, or have been found, in the Cos. Carlo-vr, 

 Donegal (?), Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Mayo, Monaghan,. 

 Sligo, Tipperary, and Waterford.] 



The black marbles of Kilkenny are historic. Although we 

 have in very ancient structures, such as those of Askeaton, Co. 

 Limerick, and Clonmacnoise, King's County, examples of very 

 ancient marble, yet the first written record of Irish marbles seems 

 to be that of Grerrard Boate, written in 1652. 



The Irish black marbles were at one time in great request, 

 quarries in various counties being worked in a great measure for 

 exportation to England and elsewhere. The black varieties were 

 principally in demand, but also the black speckled or marked with 

 white. The pure black marbles were chiefly required for monu- 

 mental purposes, but not always, as a considerable quantity of the 

 Angliham stone, Co. Galway, was exported to London for the Duke 

 of Hamilton's staircase, in his mansion in Scotland. Although 

 in later years the best " blacks" were most in requisition, yet the 

 black mottled or spotted with white, like the famous Kilkenny 

 marble, which got the Irish marbles a name, were much sought 

 after ; and also inferior " blacks," the latter being required for 

 local trade in tombstones and such like. Now the trade in " blacks" 

 is very low, none but the best, which have an extensive sale, being 

 much looked for. The black-and-white are not now in much 

 requisition ; while the fashion in tombstones of late years has so 

 changed, that inferior " blacks" have now no place in the general 

 market. For these reasons, combined with the gradual depression 



SCIEN. PROC. B.D.S. — VOL. V. FT. V. 2 I) 



