geology kilkenny

As can be seen above ground in many places, from walls and buildings, the structure of the greater portion of Co. Kilkenny is of limestone rock. Kilkenny City is called the "Marble City": its limestone when polished becomes, in the words of the song, "as black as ink". The exceptions are the coal measure shales long worked on the Castlecomer plateau, and the old red sandstone between Kilmoganny and Mullinavat. An area of shale in the south-east of the county has an intruder in the hill of Brandon, formed of granite.