Kinahan — Slates and Clays (Bricks, 8fc). 105 



raised in large, flat-bedded rough blocks, suitable for foundations or 

 heavy work. 



There are good veins of roofing slates {see p. 92). 



WESTMEATH. 



Slaty rocks are nearly quite absent ; they occur only as sub- 

 ordinate beds in the Carboniferous strata. 



WEXFORD. 



Slaty rocks occur very generally throughout this county. In 

 some places, however, they have been metamorphosed into schists, 

 or even gneiss (?) They vary greatly, from roofing slates to gritty 

 slates — the latter passing iuto grits and quartzite. They are very 

 extensively used for walling and rubble in all the towns and in the 

 ancient buildings, as in the castles and churches of Ferns, Ennis- 

 corthy, &c. 



In places there are veins of roofing slates, mentioned at p. 92. 



WICKLOW. 



This county, like Wexford, is largely occupied by slaty or allied 

 rocks, which have been used extensively for common building 

 purposes in Bray, Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow, Rathdrum, 

 Arklow, Tinahely, Carnew, Shillelagh, &c. Many of them are 

 more or less metamorphosed; but in general all give good flat -bedded 

 tones, often of large sizes, capable of producing good work. They 

 very seldom dress well on the edges. Many, however, might be 

 sawn ; but this is not practised, as granite is generally used for 

 dressings and quoins. 



In Saint Kevin's Kitchen, Glendaiough, there is a high-pitched 

 roof, built in horizontal courses, partly supported by a cylindrical 

 vault made with voussoirs, both of micalyte. Anciently, and up to 

 the middle of this century, the majority of the monuments at the 

 Seven Churches were slabs of micalyte, some of the ancient ones 

 being elaborately carved. But nearly all the more modern ones in 



