Quarry Tours

Valentia Slate quarry is an underground quarry (the largest show “cave” in Ireland) and has been like this since open cast operations ceased about 1830. The historical quarrying chambers are still there and make for an impressive sight. Our tours allow you to experience being underground in these very old work spaces and show you how production was carried on in the mid 19th Century.

Production methods are very different nowadays and instead of using explosives and manpower to remove blocks from the mountain, an electric chainsaw with a blade 2 metres long frees the blocks of slate. In the olden days, these blocks would have been sawn into slabs with toothless iron saw blades that used flint sand, constantly fed into the cut by the sawyers, to slice the slabs.

Today slabs are sawn by a wire rope that is studded with diamonds. Other stone working machines then shape and finish the slabs into the variety of products that the quarry makes. All of these pieces of specialised equipment can be seen on our quarry tour.

We have a selection of small items for sale at the quarry and when you visit, we will be happy to discuss any projects that you have in mind. You may also try your hand at making a roofing slate.

Valentia Slate quarry is an underground quarry (the largest show “cave” in Ireland) and has been like this since open cast operations ceased about 1830. The historical quarrying chambers are still there and make for an impressive sight. Our tours allow you to experience being underground in these very old work spaces and show you how production was carried on in the mid 19th Century.

Production methods are very different nowadays and instead of using explosives and manpower to remove blocks from the mountain, an electric chainsaw with a blade 2 metres long frees the blocks of slate. In the olden days, these blocks would have been sawn into slabs with toothless iron saw blades that used flint sand, constantly fed into the cut by the sawyers, to slice the slabs.

Today slabs are sawn by a wire rope that is studded with diamonds. Other stone working machines then shape and finish the slabs into the variety of products that the quarry makes. All of these pieces of specialised equipment can be seen on our quarry tour.

We have a selection of small items for sale at the quarry and when you visit, we will be happy to discuss any projects that you have in mind. You may also try your hand at making a roofing slate.