Granthams Chart 1822

Notes and sketches by the geologist and artist George DuNoyer 17/12/1863 gives a description of the quarry beds and drainage

Slate Quarries from an 1888 Geological Map. Slate from these quarries, being of such high quality would later roof the likes of the Four Courts, The G.P.O and Kilmainham Gaol

Commercial exploitation of the quarries around Corbally, Curragh and Killoran on a large scale took off in the early 19th century.

Originally the operation was taken over by the Quaker backed Mining Company of Ireland in 1824. The altruistic MCI had intentions of saving the 'peasants' from moral turpitude by employing them in a fruitful and mutually beneficial manner. They inherited a mining operation that had already been in existence here for at least 50 years. This caused all sorts of problems for the MCI as the workers, skilled though they were, did not take kindly to their new overlords laying down working practices. Neither were they aware that whatever the philantropic intentions, they did not need saving from themselves. Historically, they would drop tools at a minutes notice to attend funerals, wakes or marriages. This meant the company couldn't guarantee a continuous supply of product.

An attempt by the MCI to impose a more disciplined way of working resulted in a strike in 1827 which inevitably turned violent. The companies response was to dismiss the entire workforce. They were re-instated later in the year when the two sides came to an agreement. Further calamities fell on the MCI when local landowners blocked the companies access to the Lough Derg at Garrykennedy so they had to move their transport down to Killaloe.

By 1830, the question of access to the Shannon and Lough Derg had still not been resolved leaving the company with a product they couldn't distribute. The MCI answer via the shareholders was to dismiss the workforce, especially those identified as being more militant. They would then rehire them but at a reduced wage. The site manager was instructed only to re-hire those who would accept the reduced wage. When he tried to instigate the new MCI policy it ended with the site manager resigning due to the resulting intimidation.

The Commisioners for Public Works intervened and built a road to Garrykennedy and a Lakeside pier between 1830 and 1832 to faciltate the company operations. The MCI increased their ouput and in 1838 had over £10,000 worth of slate stockpiled in their  yard on the Grand Canal in Dublin. As any businessman will tell you this is not good. You need to be rotating stock and moving it on. Having it sitting there does not generate profits and at the end of the day thats all the shareholder is interested in.

Meanwhile the workers were operating a go-slow, and dictating who should or shouldn't be employed and at what rate. The shareholders were incensed. Attempts to break the impasse resulted in 4 strike breakers being 'barborously beaten'. Offers of rewards and inducements to identify the perpetrators fell on deaf ears. Without any reason offered as to why, the workers eventually returned and resumed work.

Inevitably the MCI finally gave up in 1840 after 3 years of substantial losses. This was caused primarily by a failure to find markets for the slate and the lack of ability to service those markets they did have. There were also queries from the shareholders concerning the policy of providing accommodation at favourable rents to the workers. The shareholders saw this as a further incursion into their ever dwindling profits.

The Quarrymen cottages provided by The Imperial Slate Company

A loaded dray of Slates from Killaloe Slate Quarries on its way to an exhibition at Dublin Spring Show in 1926 to promote the product

(One of the Hickeys from Ballymoylan splitting the slate and Stephen Molamphy dressing the slate with the guillotine)

These pictures from 12/10/1914 of the similar Ahenny Slate Quarry near Carrick-on-Suir give a flavour and a clearer view of the men's working conditions. Note the crude slate shelter and the precarious perch on which the men stand. Productivity would be the driving force here. (catalogue.nli.ie)

Old Engine House

Tubex

The site for Tubex was very unusual. Founded in1934, It used the existing quarry land and so was perched on the side of a mountain. In winter you'd have to abandon your transport and trudge your way up the hill through the snow to get to work. I always felt I was entering the lair of a Bond villain. The smell of the annealing ovens hit you as you pushed through the plastic doors. However, during your 4.00 a.m. break on a Summers morning the views over the spoil heaps with the awakening chatter of the birds changed your perspective.

The ever rotating feeder chain which was kept constantly supplied with manually fed tubes. It then went through the Annealing Oven. Picking the tubes up on the other side afterwards meant many burned fingers, especially from the sharp screw tops on the tubes which retained the heat. From there it went through the printing process and further ovens to seal the paint. Everything was on a shoe string so I was often called on to mix a near approximation to a particular Corporate Colour was been used.