The Galway Marble Works

The Galway Express, March 28th, 1885

In our perambulatons during the week curiosity prompted us to turn into the Marble Works, now so successfully carried on by Messrs Miller and Moon, of this town, and indeed, we must confess, we were well rewarded for our visit, notwithstanding the slight inconvenience experienced by the low doorways, which compelled us to bow before entering, and an unavoidable coating of dust caught while penetrating the intricacies of this busy hive of industry. Through the courtesy of Mr Miller, who happened to be on the premises at the time, we were shown some splendid specimens of workmanship, amongst which it may be interesting to mention a most exquisitely—wrought black marble altar, intended for the new Catholic Church at Renmore military barracks. This magnificent structure is 7 feet wide, 3 feet 6 inches high, and 3 feet in depth, with arches spandrel. The columns are composed of cork—red marble bases, with Connemara green pillars, covered by a cap of white Italian marble. The whole is surmounted by a tabernacle of exquisite device, about three feet in hight, standing on green columns, with a neatly—executed door of cork—red marble, on which a beautiful white marble cross is brought out in relief. Above all is fitted a cap of black marble, on the summit of which is placed an ivory cross, which gives a most beautiful effect to the whole. On the front of the altar is embedded on a slab of the most superb polish the letters "I.H.S.," artistically entwined, and composed of white Italian marble. To endeavour to eulogise this work of art, would require the pen of an art critic, but suffice it for us to say that anything of a similar style it has not been our lot to see outside the confines of the Galway Marble Works. We also saw some plans and models of a number of chimney pieces sent to the Tuam Town Hall which deserve a word in this paragraph. The first is of black marble with moulded shelf, bead moulds, and key—stone. It is 6 feet 6 inches in length, and 4 feet 3 inches in height. The second was of a size smaller, but of the same pattern. The third, which may be styled a structure of beauty, is also in black marble, but most artfully and artistically inlaid and panelled with green, which has a most imposing effect. We understand this piece of art was not more than a half—hour on exhibition when it was sold. The fourth was also inlaid with green panels, but not so elaborate as the former. The fifth was a plain black marble chimney—piece, large sized, and most exquisitely executed. Before leaving the works our attention was attracted by observing some large polished slabs of green shade lying against the wall on the eastern side, and on inquiry into their nature, we were informed that it was common granite, quarried at Ballagh, about a mile and a—half from the town of Galway. It is needless to describe our astonishment at this information, and on our remarking that we had seen pillars of the very same description in the new church now in course of erection at the Presentation, we were told it was identical with that to which we had referred, and that these pillars were brought all the way from Aberdeen. This latter is a new industry, never attempted in Galway before, and goes to show plainly what can be attained, not only in this, but in other enterprises, if people would only try. Too much credit cannot be accorded the proprietors of this establishment, for the state of perfection to which they have by their exertion brought this branch of local industry, and we only wish they may go on and prosper.