Killane Limestone Quarry

Notes:

This large limestone quarry was located at the windmill of Killane, south-west of Edenderry. In the lower section of the quarry horizontally bedded, thin, black, finely crystalline limestone, interstratified with flaggy, compact, black layers and thin, black shale partings, were exposed. The thicker limestone beds, often worked as a black marble, were sought after for tomb stones and chimneypieces. Resting conformably above this black limestone horizon were vertically jointed, columnar-looking, pale grey, finely crystalline, oolitic limestones, which were quarried as superior building stone in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. George Victor Du Noyer sketched a face of Killane Quarry illustrating the above horizons, which was published in the GSI Memoirs in 1860.

Killane Quarry, which is illustrated on the first edition 6 inch OSI map (1837-1842), has been worked commercially since at least the early nineteenth century, and likely earlier as this locality was the probable source of the distinctive oolitic limestone used in Castletown House (1719-1721). The close proximity of Killane Quarry to the Grand Canal would have facilitated convenient transportation of the stone. Stone raised at this quarry was frequently transported by horse and cart to the harbour at Edenderry where it was conveyed on Grand Canal barges to various locations for building purposes. Described as an easily worked building stone by both George Wilkinson and George Henry Kinahan, the cost of the Killane limestone in the mid 1800s in a worked state was between 8d. and 10d. per superficial [square] foot. Griffith's Valuation documents the Marquis of Downshire as the immediate lessor and Joseph Roddery (or Rothery) as the occupier of the quarry in 1853; the total annual valuation of the quarry at this time was £5. Stone from the quarry was given free for building to the tenantry.

By 1938 the quarry, which had been lying vacant since at least the end of the nineteenth century/beginning of the twentieth century (it is marked as disused on the 25 inch OSI map (1888-1913)), was re-opened to provide material for the steam rolling of the Edenderry-Tullamore road. At this stage Killane was being referred to as a lime works and blasting operations were talking place, while superior building and monumental oolitic limestone was still being excavated at the neighbouring Carrick Quarry. Brothers Charles and William Russell, locals of Edenderry, operated Killane Quarry and in 1938 they employed about 40 men, which decreased to 24 in 1939. Offaly County Council acquired Killane stone for road making throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Tragically in 1952 Charles Russell drowned in a small, deep pond in the lime quarry, a short distance from his home. At present the quarry is infilled and not visible. Oolitic limestone has been obtained from Carrick Quarry for conservation work in recent years.