Barnanoraun Quarry, County Galway

This famous decorative stone is known throughout the world. Formerly lime mud sediment deposited on a shallow sea floor around 650-750 million years ago, it was later subjected to high temperatures and pressures during a mountain building event.

The distinctive coloured layers, created by the different minerals in the rock, have been contorted into a number of complex features.

The only remaining quarry in operation is located at Barnanoraun in Connemara, County Galway where the stone is extracted for the world market by Irish Connemara Marble.