Aillwee Cave (Irish: Aill Bhuí) is a cave system in the karst landscape of the Burren in County Clare, Ireland. The name Aillwee is derived from the Irish Aill Bhuí which means "yellow cliff".[2] Privately owned, it forms part of the Aillwee Cave and Birds of Prey Centre attraction.
The cave system consists of over a kilometre of passages leading into the heart of the mountain. Its features include an underground river and a waterfall as well as some large stalactites and stalagmites. The remains of bears can also be seen inside the caves and allusions have been made to it being the last bear den in Ireland. The cave is typical of the Clare caves, consisting in the main of stream passage and ending in a sump. The general direction is east to west but turns due south some 600 metres (2,000 ft) into the cave.
The cave is considerably older than most of the Clare caves and originally contained a large stream. The stream has all but disappeared from the cave and is heavily backfilled with glacial infill. The formations visible on the show cave tour are rarely more than 8,000 years old but calcite samples in the recesses of the cave have been dated to over 350,000 years old.
Discovery and explorationedit
The cave was discovered in 1944, when a farmer named Jack McGann followed his dog, who was chasing a rabbit. The farmer did not explore very far into the caves, and did not tell anyone of the find for nearly 30 years. He told cavers of the cave in 1973 and that summer the cave was explored as far as a boulder choke. Show cave development began quite soon after.[3]: 30
The boulder choke was removed in 1977 and access was gained to the rest of the cave. The "Marine Blast" tunnel was completed in 1992 to allow a circular trip.
In 1976 the bones of two brown bears were found. These were subsequently determined to be over 10,000 years old. During this period only about 1000 people lived in Ireland.[4]
Public accessedit
The cave was opened to the public in 1976. As of 2018, roughly 300 metres (980 ft) of cave passage is open to the public, one third of the total length of the cave. The tours end at a point called the Highway and exit the cave via a 250-metre (820 ft) man-made tunnel.
The access building has been awarded the Europa Nostra prize.[3]: 30 Facilities include a café and gift shop.
Birds of Prey Centreedit
At the location there is also a Birds of Prey Centre offering shows and "hawk walks".
In popular cultureedit
The caves appear in the Father Ted episode "The Mainland" under the name "The Very Dark Caves". They are also mentioned in a story in Part II of The Basset Chronicles by June J. McInerney.
^ abDrew, D.P.; Cohen (1980). "Geomorphology and Sediments of Aillwee Cave, Co. Clare, Ireland" (PDF). Proceedings of the University of Bristol Speleological Society. 15 (3): 227–240. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
^"An Aill Bhuí". Bunachar Logainmneacha na hÉireann. An Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
^ ab Feehan, John (2001), "The Burren Underworld", in O'Connell, J.W.; Korff, Anne (eds.), The Book of the Burren, Tir Eolas, pp. 24–30
^Flynn, Pat (6 July 2018). "Aillwee Cave bear skull is 10,400 years old". The Clare Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
External linksedit
Aillwee Cave official website
January 01, 1970
aillwee, cave, irish, aill, bhuí, cave, system, karst, landscape, burren, county, clare, ireland, name, aillwee, derived, from, irish, aill, bhuí, which, means, yellow, cliff, privately, owned, forms, part, birds, prey, centre, attraction, aillweemcganns, cave. Aillwee Cave Irish Aill Bhui is a cave system in the karst landscape of the Burren in County Clare Ireland The name Aillwee is derived from the Irish Aill Bhui which means yellow cliff 2 Privately owned it forms part of the Aillwee Cave and Birds of Prey Centre attraction AillweeMcGanns CaveInside Aillwee CaveShowing location of Aillwee Cave in IrelandLocationCounty Clare IrelandCoordinates53 05 21 N 9 08 38 W 53 089167 N 9 143815 W 53 089167 9 143815Length1 030 metres 3 380 ft 1 Elevation92 metres 302 ft 1 Discovery1944 Explored 1973 onwardsGeologyCarboniferous limestoneAccessShow caveShow cave length1 130 metres 3 710 ft inc exit tunnel LightingElectric Stalactites seen in the Aillwee caves Contents 1 Description 2 Discovery and exploration 3 Public access 4 Birds of Prey Centre 5 In popular culture 6 Partnerships 7 Rock climbing 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksDescription editThe cave system consists of over a kilometre of passages leading into the heart of the mountain Its features include an underground river and a waterfall as well as some large stalactites and stalagmites The remains of bears can also be seen inside the caves and allusions have been made to it being the last bear den in Ireland The cave is typical of the Clare caves consisting in the main of stream passage and ending in a sump The general direction is east to west but turns due south some 600 metres 2 000 ft into the cave The cave is considerably older than most of the Clare caves and originally contained a large stream The stream has all but disappeared from the cave and is heavily backfilled with glacial infill The formations visible on the show cave tour are rarely more than 8 000 years old but calcite samples in the recesses of the cave have been dated to over 350 000 years old Discovery and exploration editThe cave was discovered in 1944 when a farmer named Jack McGann followed his dog who was chasing a rabbit The farmer did not explore very far into the caves and did not tell anyone of the find for nearly 30 years He told cavers of the cave in 1973 and that summer the cave was explored as far as a boulder choke Show cave development began quite soon after 3 30 The boulder choke was removed in 1977 and access was gained to the rest of the cave The Marine Blast tunnel was completed in 1992 to allow a circular trip In 1976 the bones of two brown bears were found These were subsequently determined to be over 10 000 years old During this period only about 1000 people lived in Ireland 4 Public access editThe cave was opened to the public in 1976 As of 2018 roughly 300 metres 980 ft of cave passage is open to the public one third of the total length of the cave The tours end at a point called the Highway and exit the cave via a 250 metre 820 ft man made tunnel The access building has been awarded the Europa Nostra prize 3 30 Facilities include a cafe and gift shop Birds of Prey Centre editAt the location there is also a Birds of Prey Centre offering shows and hawk walks In popular culture editThe caves appear in the Father Ted episode The Mainland under the name The Very Dark Caves They are also mentioned in a story in Part II of The Basset Chronicles by June J McInerney Partnerships editThe cave complex is a member of the local hospitality association and an active partner of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark Rock climbing editJust 400 meters to the north of the upper car park of the caves is the popular novice rock climbing location of Aill na Cronain See also editBears in IrelandReferences editIrish Speleology Volume 2 No 4 p 19 a b Drew D P Cohen 1980 Geomorphology and Sediments of Aillwee Cave Co Clare Ireland PDF Proceedings of the University of Bristol Speleological Society 15 3 227 240 Retrieved 3 January 2014 An Aill Bhui Bunachar Logainmneacha na hEireann An Roinn Ealaion Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta Retrieved 3 January 2014 a b Feehan John 2001 The Burren Underworld in O Connell J W Korff Anne eds The Book of the Burren Tir Eolas pp 24 30 Flynn Pat 6 July 2018 Aillwee Cave bear skull is 10 400 years old The Clare Herald Retrieved 12 August 2020 External links editAillwee Cave official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aillwee Cave amp oldid 1194999640, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
