Ireland’s last remaining slate quarry is preparing to dispatch a 30-tonne shipment of roofing slate to California, marking its first export of slate from the quarry in more than 150 years. Valentia Slate, situated underground in the Co Kerry countryside, first opened on Valentia Island in 1816. The business is now positioned to renew its international footprint following years of targeted automation and capital investment.
For decades, the operation’s output remained largely within domestic channels, drawing on a geological profile recognized for its durability. Owner Aidan Forde described the material as possessing a rare combination of physical traits that distinguish it from other dimensional stones. “It’s a very, very versatile material and always has been, and it has that good combination of being very strong, being very splitable at the same time, but very inert,” Mr Forde said. He added that the stone does not erode with rainwater in the manner characteristic of marble.
Geological Significance and Historical Precedent
The slate deposit holds a distinct status within the island’s industrial heritage, sharing formal recognition alongside Conamara marble. “In Ireland there are two world heritage stone resources,” Mr Forde said, noting that Valentia Slate secured that designation approximately two years ago. The quarry produces roughly 1,000 tonnes of slate annually, supplying material that historically surfaced on prominent architectural landmarks including the Houses of Parliament in London, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, and the Paris Opera House.
At its peak the quarry employed more than 400 people before a rockfall in 1911 forced the closure of the quarry until 1991. The subsequent decades, particularly the past five years, brought significant investment directed toward automation, allowing the facility to scale production capacity for international transport.
Economic Impact Across South Kerry
Local employment remains closely tied to the quarry’s daily operations. Dermot Keating, a Portmagee native who has worked at Valentia Slate for the past 20 years, emphasized the tangible economic benefit the enterprise brings to a region heavily reliant on tourism. “It’s a big achievement really for a small company,” Mr Keating said, noting that whatever money is being spent is being spent in the area.
With the forthcoming California shipment loaded and prepared for transit, company management intends to build upon current production figures. The enterprise plans to continue to expand and to grow its exports.
