Kinahan — Slates and Clays (Bricks, tyc). 93 



A fair slate was worked a little at Killybeg, four miles from 

 Euniscorthy ; while trials were made on the eastern slopes of 

 Mount Leinster. 



WICKLOW. 



In the north-west of this county, a few miles north of Blessington, 

 near the mearing of county Kildare, a slate vein was worked in the 

 Ordovicians about the middle of the eighteenth century. Jukes 

 states: — "The cleavage is often as fine and complete as in any slate 

 whatever ; and it only fails to make good roofing slates from the 

 want of firmness in the materials." It was formerly much worked 

 for small slates, but to no great depth ; and it is possible that if it 

 were sunk on, in depth, the size and quality of the slate would 

 improve. — (g. s. m.) 



Near Ashford, in the Devil's Glen, a slate was being worked in 

 the year 1845, both for roofing slate and slabs. Both Kane and 

 Wilkinson write approving of it, and state that it has a very strong 

 resemblance to the Welsh slate, both in colour and in texture, being 

 about intermediate in character between those of Bangor and 

 Llanberis ; while, like those veins, it is of Cambrian age. This 

 quarry appears to have been worked for a few years with every 

 prospect of success, turning out good work in roofing slates and 

 slabs ; but the proprietor, like many others, suffered from the great 

 depression in trade of 1850 and subsequent years, during which 

 the works were abandoned. 



In different places south and south-east of Rathdrum there have 

 been trials, or small workings, on Ordovician slates ; those in Kil- 

 macrea Hills, north of Redcross, were the most extensive, and good 

 slate was procured near the north part of the Pass ; but the veins 

 are narrow, so that there is no opportunity for a large quarry. 



At Clanicilliani, a little south of Wooden Bridge, in the Ordo- 

 vicians, there is a small quarry which was lately worked principally 

 for the manufacture of " school slates," as the slate is not very good 

 for roofing purposes. In the opposite brow, to the east of the 

 valley, there appears to be a better vein of roofing slate. The colour 

 varies, the slate being greyish green, bright green and purplish. 

 These veins have not as yet got a fair trial, as the works were 

 injudiciously laid out. 



