Rare and beautiful, Connemara marble is found exclusively along Ireland’s rugged wild Atlantic coast. This Irish marble is as unique as the spectacular Irish landscape it forms, with green of almost every hue in arresting layers and patterns.
A closer look at the marble we use in our jewellery covers almost every shade from dark and moody and nearly black through to almost white with just a whisper of green. Johnny Cash's may as well have been singing about Connemara marble in his famous song, 40 shades of Green!
Photo Credit: J. Chadwick
But how was Connemara marble formed? Why is it green? Is Connemara marble actually marble? What even is Connemara marble? How did Connemara marble get its name? And What makes Connemara marble so prized and unique? Read on for all these answers and more:
How was Connemara marble formed?
Connemara Marble has a primal past, formed from muddy marine sediments deposited in a shallow primal sea around 600 million years ago. These sediments were transformed by formidable forces generated in the formation of the spectacular landscape of the wild north west Atlantic coast of Ireland, and northern Scotland over 390 million years ago! Ancient treasures indeed!
Beautiful layering visible in a polished slab of Connemara Marble.
Photo Credit: J. Chadwick
Why is Connemara marble green?
The beautiful bands of rich colour within the marble are formed by tiny crystals of green minerals like serpentine, diopside, and chlorite. The minerals in Connemara marble formed at high pressure and temperatures over 550oC, transforming muddy marine sediments into limestone and then marble. The creamy white bands in Connemara marble are formed of calcite, and dolomite, two much more typical minerals found in marble world wide. These minerals come together in Connemara marble in different proportions giving this stone easily 40 shades of green and perhaps more!
Is Connemara marble actually marble?
This might seem like a strange question. Surely the hint is in the name? But many of the famous green "marbles" of the world are not actually marbles at all! It all stems from differences between naming of different rock types between geologists, people who study rocks, and stonemasons and quarry owners, people who sell or work with rocks. Commercially any stone that can be polished is called marble - so many green "marbles" are actually other stone entirely like green onyx, or the famous Verd antique, a breccia used by the ancient Romans.
Unlike these other stones, Connemara marble is a true marble as recognised by geologists. It is a hard crystalline rock formed from ancient limestone transformed through heat and pressure. Marble of any colour has long been prized as an ornamental stone - used in famous buildings like the Taj Mahal or spectacular sculptures like Michelangelo's David.
Where is Connemara marble found?
This lovely stone gets its name from the only region in the world in which it is found, the wild and rocky landscape of Connemara in Co. Galway.
Where does it get its name?
The name of the entire region, the marble, and even the wild ponies that roam the landscape, are thought to derive from an ancient tribe that ruled the lands, the Conmhaícne. Located along the maritime coastline of Co. Galway they were known as the Conmhaícne Mara, the Conmaicne of the sea.
Why is Connemara marble so prized?
Connemara marble is a rare and internationally prized stone. In 2022, Connemara Marble was given international recognition of its cultural importance and symbolism in Ireland, when it was officially designated a Heritage Stone. Connemara marble joined world famous stones like Portland Stone and Welsh Slate from the UK, and Italian Carrara Marble on a growing, but still relatively short list of 32 stones recognised globally.
The ground floor of the Museum Building, in Trinity College Dublin has the first documented use of Connemara marble in building, with many columns, handrails, pilasters and roundels crafted in this lovely stone.
Prized for thousands of years primarily for it's striking colour - as we have seen above, true marbles with green hues are exceedingly rare. It being a marble it is also relatively easy to work, lending itself to all sorts of decorative uses. Of course the fact that it is uniquely Irish certainly makes it a covetable price for people that love Ireland around the globe and it's rarity is surely also part of Connemara marble's allure. Even here in Ireland it can be tricky to get your hands on sizeable pieces!
This rare marble has been shipped around the world for centuries. You will find it in the lovely Galway Cathedral in Ireland, and the Museum Building in Trinity College here in Dublin, but also in Westminster Cathedral in London, as well as farther afield, in the Senate Chamber of the State building in Pennsylvania. And after a tip off from one of our blog readers, we have it on good authority that Connemara marble has even made it to a different west coast, in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, San Francisco, USA.
Is Connemara marble still mined?
Quarrying Connemara marble was one of Ireland's first domestic industries. There are axes made of Connemara marble in the National museum of Ireland that date to over 4000 years old! And it is still quarried to this day in Galway on Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast in a quarry at Moycullen.
A photo of the quarry at Moycullen in Co. Galway at the Connemara Marble Factory.
Connemara Marble is strong and beautiful
Connemara marble is also prized because the green minerals that result in its unique colour also make it a very durable and more hard-wearing stone compared to many other marble varieties. This makes it a stunning as well as practical choice of ornamental stone.
Connemara Marble: The Irish Gemstone
Known as the “Irish Gemstone”, the beautiful and unique patterns and colours, combined with workability and durability also make it a fabulous material for use in jewellery. With a fine grained structure, it can be carved and polished in to all manner of shapes and finishes to make beads, cabochons, inlay, and more. Our Connemara Marble jewellery showcases these qualities to great effect for wearable pieces of Ireland to treasure and pass on as family heirlooms.
The iconic Claddagh ring with a polished Connemara Marble heart.
Connemara Marble: An Irish legacy
A treasure traded for centuries in Ireland, Connemara Marble continues to be of great value today. According to Oscar Wilde, “Connemara is a Savage Beauty” and we tend to agree. We take great pride in sharing this beautiful and unique material with our customers worldwide.
One-of-a-Kind Connemara Marble
Every piece of Connemara Marble is different which makes for unique gifts ideal for the person proud of their Irish roots.
How to clean Connemara marble?
Marble is a hard crystalline stone but it can be damaged by coming into contact with the wrong materials. Household acids like lemon juice or vinegar can attack the calcium bearing minerals in the rock, eating into them and breaking them down so the polished surface appears dull. They can also be scratched with abrasive cleaners or brushes or hard knocks - so pieces with Connemara marble require a gentle hand.
We suggest prevention is the best approach in caring for your Connemara marble jewellery. Take your piece off if you are baking or gardening or doing anything else that might get your jewellery grimy or expose it to acid. And as it is a porous stone it is best to take off Connemara marble pieces before showering, swimming or hitting the hot tub too!
But what happens if you forget? You can safely clean your marble piece with a soft damp cloth to wipe off real grime. Or you could always treat your jewlery to a "spa day" at a local jeweler for cleaning. Find out more about our jewellery care tips and how to keep your pieces looking great here.
Ask Gemma
Hello!
I am writing a fictional piece about Ireland in the 16th century. In my story, there needs to be a particular precious and valuable piece of jewelry (I’m thinking probably an engagement ring).
Would you be able to tell me what metal would be used and if possible what gemstone if any would likely have been used?
Thank you so very much in advance for your time and help!!