Kjnahan — On Irish Marbles and Limestones. 431 



Askeaton. — The Fenestella limestones of this neighbourhood 

 were used extensively in the old castle of the Geraldines, and in 

 Askeaton Abbey. The beauty of the stone, its qualifications for 

 cut-stone purposes, and its durability, are displayed in the orna- 

 mentation of the banqueting-hall of the castle and the windows of 

 the abbey, but especially in the pillars of the cloisters. The latter 

 are beautiful examples of carving, while at the same time they 

 exemplify the fact that this stone is capable of taking a good and 

 lasting polish. The exact place where these stones were quarried 

 is not known ; they are speckled greys, with tints of pink and 

 dove-colour. 



Kylethane (near Rathkeale). — Dark calpstone, inclined to 

 blackish; in part shaley; hard, but works evenly except across 

 the grain. 



Chare/down (Newcastle West). — Dark grey. Works freely, 

 but is very wasteful. 



Drumroe. — Seven miles from Newcastle. A somewhat similar 

 stone, but better than that at Churchtown, and generally preferred 

 to it, but it is very brittle. 



Ballyeummin — About three miles from Limerick. Bluish-grey; 

 works well. 



Rosbrien. — Near Limerick. Very similar to last ; a good stone. 



Limerick. — Thomond Gate. — Greyish-black ; fine, and close- 

 grained; some of the beds formerly worked for marble of a 

 superior quality. Bridge quarry. — Grey ; compact ; a good sound 

 stone. Carey' s-road. — Dark grey; semi-compact. Gillogue. — 

 Blackish ; very close-grained ; good hydraulic lime. Railway 

 Quarry. — Grey, black, and green. The black stone was worked for 

 marble many years ago, and was good, being sent to the London 

 market ; the green is tuffose and arenaceous ; works easily ; 

 friable ; not durable ; used extensively in the new railway station. 

 The grey stones and those in the other quarries work more or less 

 freely and well. They have been extensively used in Limerick 

 and the neighbourhood. 



Charleville. — Dark- grey; crystalline; compact; a free- working 

 stone. 



Quarry Rill, Knockany. — Four miles from Kilrnallock. Greyish- 

 blue ; close-grained ; very easy to work. It would appear from 

 the nature of the stone that it was from these quarries that 



