Caves Of Ireland

Hello again friends!

So there are a couple of places that I found particularly fascinating while doing my research on places to visit. And those are the Caves of Ireland. If I were to say one was of lesser significance then the other I would have to say it would be Ailwee Caves only because it is smaller then Marble Arch Caves. So let me go ahead and tell you about Ailwee Cave first.


Ailwee Caves


Ailwee Cave

Ailwee caves are located in Ballyvaughan in the County Clare.  Ailwee is part of a cave system created by the action of melting water from a prehistoric ice age on the limestone below the Burren. The stalagmites and stalactites and columns within the cave have formed over about a million years, with an inch of change taking a century or more to occur.  They say that seeing these structures is a very humbling experience.

The most interesting feature of the cave is its many stalagmites and stalactites. These are calcite formations created by the constant slow drip of water through the limestone, each water droplet contributing a few tiny crystals of dissolved minerals to the slow growth of the formation. Some are tiny- just little straws hanging from the ceiling of the cave or small bumps on the ground, but even these have taken thousands of years to form. The large impressive ones have taken up to 350,000 years to reach their present size. The formations have been given names due to their shape, there is the  "Wasp Nest",  "Praying Hands", and the "Carrots". The caves were once used for hibernation by bears, which have been extinct in Ireland for more than 1000 years!


Marble Arch Caves

Marble Arch Cave

The caves at Marble Arch are unlike any other Irish cave by virtue of their sheer scale- an underground river, the Cladagh, runs through caverns of breathtaking splendour, as well as narrow winding passages, and past a beautiful waterfall. Its like entering a subterranean alternate world. The caves have been open to the public since 1985, but were first discovered in 1895 by a pioneering figure in the history of  cave exploration, a Frenchman named Edouard--Alfred Martel. For many decades only those skilled in caving were privy to their beauty, but now they have been carefully developed to allow ordinary mortals in , providing safe ways to getting around without compromising the delicate structure and environment inside.

The caves and their rivers are all under the Cuilcagh Mountain, a very scenic area which since 2004, along with the caves, has been a designated European geopark, in recognition of that importance of its environment and geology. The mountain has a distinctive table-top profile which is a dominant feature of the landscape in Co. Fermanagh, and indeed in bordering Co. Caven- the mountain is half in Northern Ireland and half in Ireland with the border running along its ridge.  The top of the mountain is composed of grit stone, which as you go downward changes to sandstone and shale. Underneath the caves are limestone. This unusual geology has resulted in some very dramatic scenery, with soaring cliffs and steep slopes which provides a challenge for the climbers and walkers with whom the area is very popular.

Cuilcagh Mountain

The middle slopes has one of the best areas of active blanket bog left in Europe. Blanket bog is fast disappearing worldwide, and active efforts to conserve this important heritage is ongoing. The unique habitat of the bog is home to many rate species of plants and is an important breeding site for the Golden Plover and the Peregrine Falcon.

Blanket Bog

Golden Plover

So that is some information on the Caves of Ireland. I am still up in the air on whether or not I want to see Ailwee Caves or not.  Marble Arch Caves really seems to have my interest! Its much bigger and with the underground river and all it just seems like it would be so much more interesting. Plus the Ailwee tour only last 45 minutes where the Marble Caves tour last over 75 minutes! And even though I am claustrophobic I am willing to push  myself to my limits to see this! I cant wait to get there and start sharing stories and picture with you all!!!!