[ 69 ] 



XI. 



SLATES AND CLAYS (BEICKS, Etc.). By G. H. KINAHAN, 

 M. B. I. A. WITH INTBODUCTION AND BUILDING 

 NOTES by B. CLAEK. 



[Read January 18, 1888.] 



[The order followed is, first, to give a general description of the slates and clays, 

 and then to treat of the slates, both for roofing and general purposes, according to the 

 counties arranged in alphabetical order, and to conclude with the clays, similarly 

 arranged. As to the latter, the uses to which they can be put will be mentioned, 

 especially brick-making. The prices of bricks vary very much, and very rapidly. 

 From inquiries made, and the Records, it would appear that the prices before 1850 and 

 at the present time are very similar. Between 1850 and 1860 they fell to a minimum, 

 in fact they then scarcely exceeded expenses ; after 1860 they gradually rose to a 

 maximum, between 1870 and 1880 ; while now they are very low. The average sizes 

 and weights of bricks in country places are those given by Wilkinson, as they do not 

 seem to have changed ; but in the vicinity of Dublin, Belfast, and a few other places 

 new sizes and weight have been introduced.] 



INTBODUCTION. 



This Paper, which is in continuation of the series of Papers 

 on Irish Economic Geology, commencing with " Irish Metal 

 Mining," l proposes to review former efforts at working the slates 

 and clays of Ireland, and also to point out such localities as 

 the writers believe to offer favourable prospects for the opening of 

 new works, or the extension of those already in existence ; and for 

 developing the abundant resources available to us for the manu- 

 facture of Slates, and for the numerous branches of the brick and 

 potter trades. 



The working of Irish slate formations, and the manufacture of 

 pottery, earthenware, and bricks have been carried on from very 

 remote periods, and more or less successfully at times, though none 

 of those industries ever attained such a reputation as might have 

 been expected from the abundance and excellence of the material, 

 and the readiness with which cheap labour, suitable for canying 

 on the necessary works, is procurable in Ireland. 



1 Vide these Proceedings, vol. v., p. 200. 



