Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

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hilly parts of the country, are exciting a strong spirit of
exertion in the neighbourhood, to attempt improvements
in the treatment of the lands, heretofore deemed im-
practicable, the effects of which have already begun to
shew themselves in the large tracts of land that have
been enclosed and brought into cultivation since the
settlement was made.
The geology of this county exhibits no great variety,
nearly the whole being composed of clay-slate, sand-
stone, and some limestone. The elevated region between
the Suir and the Blackwater, comprising the heights of
the Cummeragh and of Knockmeledown, is a table land
of clay-slate, partly bordered by sandstone, and sus-
taining isolated caps of the same rock. Its outskirts
are marked by Carrick, Clonmel and Clogheen, on the
north; and by Kilmacthomas, Dungarvan, and Lismore,
on the south: on the north, west, and south, it is bounded
by limestone. A border of sandstone approaches close
to the Suir on the south side, from the vicinity of Ard-
finnan to Kilmaiden, four miles west of Waterford.
The clay-slate throughout the mountain district is of a
reddish brown, purpleish, or greenish grey colour; it
ranges nearly uniformly north-west and south-east, and
dips generally from 70 to 75 degrees to the south and
south-west. Good slates for roofing are raised in the
glen of Ownashad, near Lismore, and in Glen Patrick,
near Clonmel. Near the junction of the streams that
form the river Mahon are veins of quartz, comprising
granulated lead ore; and in the same mineralogical tract,
at Kilkeany, near Mountain Castle, there is a fine vein
of lead ore. The rocks to the north of Lismore are also
rich in mineral veins: iron, copper, and lead ores are of
frequent occurrence. Lismore Castle stands on a flœtz
limestone rock, which, partly separated from the clay-
slate by a border of fine-grained sandstone, extends in
a narrow range down the vale of the Blackwater, to the
innermost recesses of Dungarvan harbour: in several
places it assumes the character of marble, as at Tourin,
where it is variegated with many colours; near New
Affane, where it is black and white; in the parish, of
Whitechurch, where it is both black and grey, &c. In
the country to the south of this range, beyond the river
Bricky, the clay-slate and sandstone again prevail in
the same relations as to the north: near the summit of
the Drum mountain the white sandstone partakes of a
slaty structure, and bears fossil impressions of leaves,
fern branches, &c., near which are thin seams of black
shale or coal slate; but between the Drum mountain and
the coast, limestone again occurs, and extends into the
sea. Mineral veins, containing lead, iron, and copper
ores, were formerly worked on this side of the Drum,
and are said to have been very productive: at Minehead
and Ardmore very valuable iron ore was procured, and
converted into the finest steel: of the copper and lead
mines also worked at the latter place, the ores, from
fragments still found, are supposed to have been very
rich. The eastern portion of the county consists almost
entirely of clay-slate, presenting a disposition of range
and dip nearly approaching to that observed more west-
ward. Limestone, however, imbedded in indurated clay-
slate, is found on the sea-coast, at Lady’s Cove, in the
immediate vicinity of Tramore: it is of the primitive kind,
and capable of receiving a very high polish, butis chiefly
burned for manure. Near Annstown, farther westward,
occur both conglomerate and basalt; and a range of trap
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rock of a columnar tendency projects into the sea. In the
high land extending from Dunhill towards Waterford
are occasionally found large masses of very beautiful
jasper. Along the coast, the rocks are rich in metallic
veins; and the elevation and abruptness of the cliffs
greatly facilitate their discovery. Lead and copper
ores have been found at Annstown and Bonmahon, near
which the copper mines at Knockmahon are carried on
most scientifically and extensively by the Mining Com-
pany of Ireland, which has a lease of the royalties of
the district: they are considered to have the most com-
plete machinery in Ireland, and give employment to
940 persons. A lead mine, the ore of which contains
a considerable portion of silver, in the parish of Bally-
laneen, belongs to the same company, but has not yet
been worked. In the conical hill of Cruach, in the pa-
rish of Reisk, a rich vein of lead ore, containing a large
proportion of silver, was formerly worked to a great
extent. On the strand of Kilmurrin, lead ore, contain-
ing a large proportion of silver, is dug from among the
sand. The south-eastern angle of the county is wholly
composed of sandstone and conglomerate throughout a
line of coast three leagues in extent. The sea has in
some places laid bare a clear uninterrupted sheet of the
rock, exposed in one plane at low water for 300 yards
in length and 50 in breadth. The conglomerate of this
coast bears all the marks of the detritus of a primary
country: it sometimes forms a thick and apparently
unstratified mass, resting on finer stratified sandstone;
and sometimes it is interstratified with the latter, as
well as with very fine-grained reddish-brown micaceous
sandstone, which is of a very perishable nature, and in
these the sea has formed spacious caverns. Potters’
clay is found in numerous places, at Dungarvan, Rin-
gagonagh, Lismore and Whitechurch; pipe clay, at Bal-
lyduff, near Dromana and at Ballyntaylor; ochre, at the
last-named place, and in small veins in various other
parts; and red bole, at Ballyduff. The sandstone is
worked in numerous places for building, for grindstones,
and millstones; and marl is found incumbent on the
limestone.
The manufactures are very inconsiderable. Carrick-
on-Suir was once the centre of a very extensive manu-
facture of woollens, chiefly ratteens and stuffs: but the
trade is now nearly extinct. Linen, though made in all
parts for domestic use, was never an article of commer-
cial importance. Cotton-manufactories were established
at Checkpoint and in some other places, all of which
have totally failed; but a factory has been since erected
at Mayfield by Mr. Malcolmson for spinning and weaving
cotton, in which nearly 900 persons are employed. The
cloth is in great demand; much of it is shipped for
Manchester. At Fairbrook, or Phairbrook, near Water-
ford, is an extensive paper-mill, furnishing employment
to 150 persons. A large distillery is now being erected
at Clashmore. The fisheries are of much value, and
capable of great extension. The embayed nature of
the coast renders it the resort of great quantities of fish
of every kind; the Nymph bank, about seven miles
distant, abounds with immense shoals of round fish.
Hake, which is the leading object of the fishery, is taken
in the mackarel season, which commences in June. Cod
and ling are in season from October to February, and
both are very fine: the former is chiefly consumed fresh;
the latter is salted, dried and sent chiefly to Dublin. The