Kinahan. — On the Clays of Ireland. 157 



under the engine-rooin have no break in them, this being due to 

 the elasticity of the supporting walls of Athy bricks. 



These bricks are well burned, and free from lime ; but there is 

 a slight difference as to quality according to the brick-yards in 

 which they are made. 



KILKENNY. 



Good Potter's Clay at Castlecomer ; also in the neighbour- 

 hood. Prior to 1837, a pottery was commenced there, but failed 

 for want of capital (L. D.). Some years later it was again started, 

 but failed ; now only a few kilns of bricks are burned. 



Pipe-clay occurs, and has been worked both in the north and 

 south of this county. 



Bricks are made at Glenmore, three miles from New Boss, 

 with clay obtained below high-water mark, in the estuary of the 

 Barrow. The salt in this clay causes the bricks to become damp 

 in wet weather, and to yield with frost if used in outside work ; 

 12s. to 15s. per 1000, 9x4}x 2|, weight 7 lbs. Ballywater, two 

 miles from Callan, inferior, 25s. per 1000, size 9x4x3, weight 

 7 lbs. Kilkenny, in different places in the vicinity, 25s. to 40s. per 

 1000, 91 x 4-i- x 3, weight 6^- lbs. Castlecomer, also tiles, drainage- 

 pipes, and coarse pottery. 



Fire-clay. —In the Leinster, or Castlecomer Coal Field (por~ 

 tions of Kilkenny, Queen's Co., and Carlow), thick beds occur under 

 most of the coals. Sir R. Griffith, in his Report (1820), spoke 

 very highly of them, yet they seem never to have been utilized. 

 The best bed is under the " Old Colliery," or " Three-foot Coal"; 

 but this is now unattainable, as the expense of draining the old 

 workings and removing the fallen roof would leave a profit out of 

 the question. Those beds that might perhaps be more easily 

 utilized are the four-feet-thick bed under Ward's seam (Bushes), 

 and the fire-clays in Towlerton and Woodland, all at the eastern 

 brow of the table-land, as these could be worked by driving in 

 levels ; besides, the associated thin seams of coal might be worked 

 as a by-product. There are also in a few places in the strata 

 below the coals (Middle and Lower Coal-measures) independent beds 

 of clay that might be worked ; and perhaps also the clay under 

 No. 1, or Gale Hill Coal. But in all the places where the coal has 

 been extracted, the old workings would have to be un watered at 



