Dudley Westropp — The Pottery Manufacture in Ireland. 27 



the nineteenth century was carried on at Belleek, Co. Fermanagh, and is 

 still in existence. This factory was started about 1857 owing to the discovery 

 of kaolin and felspar on the property of Mr. J. 0. Caldwell of Castle Caldwell. 



Mr. E. "W. Armstrong and Mr. D. M'Birney of Dublin were the proprietors, 

 and about 1860 were producing ordinary household and toilet ware. About 

 1863 the manufacture of porcelain insulators for electric telegraphs was com- 

 menced. Both fine pottery and porcelain were made at Belleek, including 

 figures, shell-, coral-, rock-work, etc., in biscuit-porcelain, and also objects in 

 an ivory porcelain covered with an iridescent glaze. 



In the Exhibition in Dublin in 1865 M'Birney and Armstrong exhibited 

 table- and toilet- ware and stone china ; stoneware ; mortars, etc., for chemical 

 purposes ; Parian china figures and statuettes and earthenware ; in the 

 Exhibition of 1872 statuary ; dessert sets ; table ornaments ; dinner ware ; 

 tea and breakfast ware ; toilet ware ; milk pans, bowls, jugs, mugs, etc. ; and 

 in the Cork Exhibition of 1883 statuary porcelain, dessert centres and pieces, 

 dessert service of ivory china painted and gilt, and also fancy china articles. 



The factory ceased working for a time, but at the present day is producing 

 large quantities of ware, especially the ivory porcelain with the iridescent 

 glaze, almost all made of imported materials. 



R.I.A. PKOC, VOL. XXXII., SECT. C, [5] 



