Brachot-Hermant, the Belgian-based stone wholesalers with a major outlet in Birmingham, have bought the Kilkenny Limestone quarry previously owned by Feelystone.

The stone is a high quality, hard limestone that is a match for Belgian Blue (or Black) and consequently has been widely used as a building stone in the Low Countries of northern Europe, in particular, as a substitute to the local stone. It has also been used in the UK and many other parts of the world – including Ireland Park in Toronto, currently closed for a $5million extension.

The Kilkenny stone was already part of the standard product range of Brachot-Hermant, available as slabs of various dimensions, before they bought the Kellymount Quarry.

The acquisition comes as Brachot reach the end of their 110th anniversary. It means the group now consists of six quarries, two ultra-modern production plants (in India as well as Belgium) and 10 branches across Europe (the others are in Belgium, France, Germany and Poland).

The Irish quarry gives Brachot-Hermant the opportunity not only to offer slabs in all standard thicknesses but also tiles and even road building aggregates for the local markets.