Kinahan— Slates and Clays (Bricks, 8fc). 99 



occupied by the castle. It constitutes good and apparently durable 

 work, the dressings and facings being of granite from Bullock, Co. 

 Dublin. This seems to be the only large modern structure in 

 which slate rock has been extensively used, and the result shows 

 that it is very suitable for such work. 



KERRY. 



The slate rocks of this county are of good and durable material. 

 They nearly always dress well on the bedding surfaces, and if 

 sawn across the grain, and moulded by planing, they would be 

 capable of being used for nearly any purpose, as exemplified in the 

 slate quarries of the Knight of Kerry, Valentia. In different 

 places, on account of the low dip of the strata, and the water-power 

 nearly everywhere available, there would be great facilities for 

 cutting the rocks in situ into any scantlings, by machinery, in the 

 quarries. This, however, has not as yet been adopted in Ireland ; 

 although, as previously pointed out (Marbles and Limestones, 

 page 492, and Sand and Sandstones, page 514, vol. v.), it might 

 in places be advantageously introduced. 



The slate rocks are eminently suitable for dry masonry, as 

 exemplified in many of the modern, and in the ancient erections, 

 such as the forts at Ballycarbery, near Cahirciveen, and those of 

 Derrynane and Staigue, as also the forts and bee-hive houses 

 (cloughauns) of the ancient settlement, called by DuNoyer the "city 

 of Faha," in the Dingle promontory. 



In the Devonian and Silurian areas the slate rocks are preferred 

 to any others for general building purposes ; at Tarbert and 

 Killarney gritty varieties being principally used. 



[The slate and slab quarries at Valentia have been described {ante p. 84), but 

 besides these there are many local openings into the slate veins, the stones from which 

 are principally used merely for walling ; but some of them are wrought into slate, the 

 stone usually being carried from the quarry to the building in the rough state, and 

 there split into slates by the slaters. On this account all through this district there are 

 many places known as "slate quarries," although a slate was never split in them.] 



KILDARE. 



In the east of this county, where slate rocks occur, they are 

 commonly used for general walling purposes. They are often of 



