Knockbrack Slate Quarry
On the 30th
of September 1933 the Dungarvan Observer published an article about the
reopening of the Knockbrack Slate Quarry near Clashmore which had not been
worked for many years and had first opened in the 19th century. According to historian Canon Power,
Knockbrack slate was exhibited in the Cork International Exhibition of 1902.
The paper noted that
the promoters had just made the final arrangements about employing local
people. It was anticipated that initially
30 to 50 people would be employed. Much of the
work involved clearing out the old debris to enable them to dig deeper to find
the better quality slate. ‘It may be
interesting to note that the present machinery about to be erected…consists of
one giant crane by Butler Brothers, Engineers, Glasgow’. It was noted that the promoters had received
a government loan.
J McGrath CEIMCE was
appointed overseer, John Tynan, engineer, formerly of the Killaloe Slate
Quarry, was in charge of the machinery. The
company representatives also paid a visit to the P.P. of Clashmore, Father
Murphy, who wished them well.
It was explained that
the quality of the slate in the quarry was very good, ‘especially the green
seam, and this may be proved by the fact that many of the oldest houses in
Youghal, Clashmore, and other places are covered with Knockbrack slate, and are
there for over 100 years or more’.
In the Schools
Collection on www.duchas.ie there is a reference
to the quarry compiled by Ballycurrane School:
‘The old slate quarry
at Knockbrack supplied all the slate that was used in roofing here about a
hundred years ago. The slate on the
school came from there. It was rather
small and heavy and was not polished off like the English slate as they had not
the requisite machinery. It was owned by
the Coughlan family. Some years ago it
was acquired by the Killaloe Company and was worked for a while. Some fine slate was got but it was abandoned
again. A huge hole half filled with
water is all that remains of the last attempt’.
John F Boyle in his booklet - Waterford County: Its Lapsed and Possible Industries 1906 referred to the excellent quarry at Knockbrack situated on the lands of Mr Coughlan and its green and purple slates.