Ejnahan — On Irish Arenaceous Rocks. 597 



other public and private buildings. According to Wilkinson, it 

 was also used in the old house of Bockingham that was burnt 

 down some years ago ; the new house, built in 1863 and 1864, is 

 of limestone from Ballinafad, Co. Sligo. 



In the bed of the river adjoining "St. John's Hole" is said to 

 have been situated the quarry from which the stones were pro- 

 cured to build Boyle Abbey. Of this ancient structure, Wilkinson 

 writes: — "Excellent work of every kind, from common dressed 

 stones to carved mouldings and ornaments, and its lofty arches 

 display a skill in construction far superior to the present day. 

 The stone has resisted exposure to the weather well, some of the 

 marks of the tools being still visible." Further, he states in refe- 

 rence to the site of the old quarry : — " It is likely that by well- 

 directed efforts the bed of the river was temporarily diverted in 

 order to get at stone which, from being constantly saturated, had 

 not become so hard as that which was comparatively in a dry 

 position." 



[This raising of stones out of the bed of a river or stream seems to have been not 

 uncommon with the early builders, as in different places holes are pointed out so 

 situated, which tradition states were quarries where the stones were procured for 

 adjoining structures. Besides other places, such is the case in the river at Drombogue, 

 in the parish of Kilmacrenan, Co. Donegal, as from an excavation in the bed of the 

 stream it is said the stones to build the adjacent Abbey of Douglas have been procured. 

 A few years ago, during a dry summer, this hole was pumped out, and a rude set of 

 steps were found from the surface to the bottom.] 



In this county, as is so common elsewhere at the present time, 

 the masons prefer the limestone for cut-stone purposes, so that the 

 sandstone is in general only used for walling and rubble work, as 

 it is easily roughly squared ; in some cases it is used for quoins, 

 window-sills, steps, and such like, while from St. John's Hole can 

 also be procured excellent flags, with a natural smooth surface, of 

 large sizes, and from 5 to 6 inches thick. They, however, are ex- 

 pensive and difficult to get at, on account of the necessary pumping 

 to keep the quarry dry. 



Fetton. Near Boyle. — Yellowish ; micaceous ; ferriferous. 



French Park. Within a mile of the town. — A silicious sand- 

 stone, used for building purposes. 



In the tracts north-east and westward of Castlerea, good stones 

 have been raised in different places, but no quarry more than of 



2 S 2 



