Valentia Slate

Valentia Slate Irelands Only Slate Quarry Valentia Slate Quarry was first opened in 1816 to supply slates mainly for roofing and flooring. As Valentia Slate Ltd. Dublin.

It also supplied gravestones to all the local cemeteries and because of the excellent quality of the slate (non porous with no impurities), these memorials can still be seen today as perfect as the day they were erected as far back as the 1820’s. When the great municipal buildings were being erected in London in the mid 19th century, Valentia Slate was used extensively. These included the Houses o

f Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and many of the Underground Railways such as Waterloo, Charing Cross, Liverpool St., Black Friars. It was also used in the Paris Opera House. George Magnus became a shareholder in the Quarry and he set up an enamelling business in London and one of his finest products was white enamelled Valentia Slate Billiard Tables made entirely of Slate and one of these can still be seen in the Isle of Wight. During its best years in the 1850’s the quarry employed up to 500 workers and built up a world renowned name for its quality products. However, with the cheaper and softer Welsh Slate coming on the market, a decline set in at Valentia and a rockfall at the mouth of the Quarry was the final straw.The Quarry closed in 1911. However, the Quarry was reopened in 1999 and went into business once more. It wasn’t easy as all the slate tradition and knowledge had died out after 88 years of inactivity. Today the Quarry employs 10 people and has a fine range of quality products. These include floor tiles, counter tops, sills, firesurrounds, vanity units, shower trays, bath surrounds, ornamental furniture, garden furniture,steps, stairs, bar counters,name plates,grave surrounds and memorials, building stone and many other products. Over the past 10 years Valentia slate has been expanding slowly and is now a favourite by many architects who come back year after year. mostly sell directly from the quarry and has no sales people on the road, it is often said the Valentia Slate is Ireland’s best kept secret!. Some of its bigger projects include EU Food and Veterinary Headquarters in Co. Meath, Irish Veterinary Laboratory Headquarters at Drumshambo, Co. Lietrim, National State Laboratory at Backweston, Co. Dublin, Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Sheen Falls Hotel, Kenmare, The Marine Institute in Galway and many more. Bono has become the latest client to discover Valentia Slate and at the moment he is using Valentia Slate extensively in refurbishing his magnificent home overlooking Killiney Bay in Co. As mentioned earlier, Valentia Slate was used extensively in the construction of the Palace of Westminster especially in the floors which were designed by the famous architect Pugin. Now there is a major revamp being carried out and many of the encaustic tiles are being replaced in all the corridors. These tiles are bordered with Valentia Slate in diamond patterns and Valentia Slate Ltd. has once again secured a contract to supply borders, tiles and skirtings over the next few years as the authentic restoration proceeds. It says something for the quality of Valentia Slate when you have to replace them after 160 years! When Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Aherne resigned it was fitting that he was presented with an engraved plaque of Valentia Slate which was taken from the floors of the Palace of Westminster which were laid down in the 1840’s.

The "green isle of Valentia" is definitely living up to its name these days! Positively tropical😂
09/01/2025

The "green isle of Valentia" is definitely living up to its name these days! Positively tropical😂

This suggestion was circulated on the island recently by Valentia Slate, as a way to remove the well-known risk to grott...
06/12/2024

This suggestion was circulated on the island recently by Valentia Slate, as a way to remove the well-known risk to grotto visitors of rockfall and to add an attractive garden element to the grotto. It is just a suggestion that would allow safe access in the future. Comments welcome.

21/10/2024

Well done LH Marine & Sea Synergy !!!

21/10/2024
14/10/2024

🥾Skellig Coast Archaeology Festival 18–20 October 2024🥾

The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Agriculture in Kerry since the First Farmers’, a story which is reflected in the various interventions on the land made by people over thousands of years. Many events are suitable for families and Irish speakers are in for a treat. This second ever Skellig Coast Archaeology Festival takes place over three days from 18–20 October 2024 with events across Iveragh in Castlecove, Ballinskelligs, Dromid, Portmagee, Valentia Island and Cahersiveen. The festival opens on Friday 18 October with an Irish language hike up into the uplands around Cahersiveen led by The Kerry Cowboy, Séaghean Ó Suilleabháin (farmer and an tOifigeach Plean Teanga for Cahersiveen). Dr Eugene Costello of UCC explores, in Irish and in English, traces of farming in the landscape, including booleying, in the breath-taking upland pastures of Tuar an Chladáin.

For more information: 🥾🥾https://www.discoveriveragh.ie/archaeology-festival
Festival Tickets: https://bit.ly/47Zingj
South Kerry Development Partnership CLG Discover Kerry Skellig Kerry Waterville Trailrunning Festival The Kerry Way Ultra

14/10/2024

** Update for our cycle in aid of Valentia Lifeboat**
We are holding our cycle on Sunday October 27th at 12.30pm. As the ferry is not operating, we are changing the route. The cycle will start at Coláiste na Sceilge and finish at the Royal Hotel Valentia via Portmagee. This will extend our cycle by 2km, no bother to our super cyclists 💪🏼 . Weather permitting, we will have a wonderful day, looking forward to seeing you all there ☀️🚴

14/10/2024
Nice rainbow over Valentia yesterday🙂
14/10/2024

Nice rainbow over Valentia yesterday🙂

01/10/2024

I've been involved in the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve since its inception, and today I am proud to present my latest poster - Wild Derrynane Kerry Dark Sky Reserve - Eclipses, Comets and Planets.

The poster includes photographs I have taken in the area, before and after the dark sky reserve was awarded. These include eclipses and comets spanning a 14 year period.

I am making these posters available to schools for free. If you know of any school that might want a digital copy, get them to dm me and I'll make arrangements for them to be able to download a high quality version.

Education is at the heart of what I do.

Thank you.
Vinny Hyland.

Check this out in last week's Kerry's Eye. Well done to everyone who was involved in the race, especially all of the Gla...
24/09/2024

Check this out in last week's Kerry's Eye. Well done to everyone who was involved in the race, especially all of the Glanageenty Loopers. (Great name!). Over €5,300 was raised for the Kerry Hospice Foundation. What are the chances of getting a Valentia relay team together for this event in 2025??😊

It seems that many of the Paris Olympics medals are disintegrating already...Should've gone to Valentia Slate🤣. Our slat...
21/08/2024

It seems that many of the Paris Olympics medals are disintegrating already...
Should've gone to Valentia Slate🤣. Our slate is over 385 million years old so our custom-made medals and plaques won't be falling apart anytime soon!

Huge congrats to all who took part in the 600km ultra run from Bray, Wicklow to Bray Head, Valentia.👏 🏆They have raised ...
08/07/2024

Huge congrats to all who took part in the 600km ultra run from Bray, Wicklow to Bray Head, Valentia.👏 🏆
They have raised over €5,200 for the Irish Hospice Foundation and donations are still being accepted at idonate.ie/fundraiser/HeadtoHead.
Here is Ed Payne, the first solo finisher, receiving his slate medal from Dermot Keating, the quarry manager. How he is still standing after runnning 600km in less than 5 days, we will never know!!!💪

Valentia Slate Quarry will be closed tomorrow, 3rd July, for staff training. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
02/07/2024

Valentia Slate Quarry will be closed tomorrow, 3rd July, for staff training. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

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Tralee
COKERRY

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+353873395749

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