[Glass Factories in Ireland]
From time to time humorists over here state that "no glass was ever made in Ireland," so that the following list of localities where a few of the best known glass-houses stood will be of interest:—
Antrim: (Ballycastle) 1755 to 1790.
Bottles, heavy rummers, and very coarse but useful glass.
Belfast: 1781 to 1870.
Fine flint glass, heavy, rather white handsome deep cutting and very fine bold engraving. Glass was brought here from other parts of Ireland to be decorated. Foreign engravers were employed and excellent work done. Very fine lustres, candlesticks, etc., were made here by McDowell, following chiefly Adam and Georgian designs.
Cork: 1782 to 1844.
Finely cut glass of every description, delicate engraving on blown ware, gilding; particularly famous for its rummers, heavy and light-blown decanters, and, after 1800, whole dessert services of beautiful colour and various cutting. Black glass was made here in 1785, and window glass in 1782.
As the card of membership of the Cork Glass Cutters' Union (shown on [Plate I.]) proves, "lustre" cutting was popular here.
Dublin: Circa 1630 to 1896.