The Case For Irish Blue Limestone?

TThe descendents of Annie Moore believe that the memorial, like Annie herself, should originate in Ireland. They agreed to carve the Annie Moore Memorial from Irish Blue Limestone, a beautiful and durable stone. Because Limestone is not commonly used for memorials in the United States, it took a special request to Cardinal Edward Egan to use this material in Calvary Cemetery. The Archdiocese of New York approved the request in a letter dated December 20, 2007.

Limestone is not commonly used for memorials in the U.S. because some Limestone varieties are not long-lasting. However, using Irish Limestone in monuments is an ancient Irish tradition. Irish Limestone is very durable and enhances with age. Through the years, the Irish have used it to build tombs, construct castles, adorn churches, and carve Celtic crosses. It is the most popular choice for headstones in Ireland.

Irish Blue Limestone was formed from fossil fragments at the floor of a coastal sea about 370 million years ago. Shellfish would die and settle at the bottom of the sea, turning it into lime mud. Intense ressure caused Irish Blue Limestone to form and turned it into one of the most compact natural sedimentary stones in the world.

Because of the fossil fragments, Irish Blue Limestone is not only durable but also colorful. One of the most distinctive characteristics of Irish Blue Limestone is how it looks when polished, as its color will range from a deep blue black to a subtle blue gray. In recent years, Irish Blue Limestone has been used for high-profile projects including the Irish Famine Memorial in lower Manhattan. The memorial contains 35,000 square feet of paving and 45,000 linear feet of wall veneer made from Irish Blue Limestone.

With five thousand years of tradition, Irish Blue Limestone is the perfect choice for the Annie Moore Memorial. The memorial will be carved by the award-winning craftsman Francis McCormack in County Clare, Ireland, and will be imported by Irish Natural Stone, Inc. of Boston. Additional information on Irish Blue Limestone is available on their websites below.

Irish Natural Stone Products Ltd./ Francis McCormack
http://www.irishnaturalstone.com/2005website/home.html

Irish Natural Stone, Inc.
www.irishlimestone.us/