Mitchelstown Cave

Michael Condon was quarrying limestone at Burncourt in May 1833 when his crowbar slipped into a fissure; he went down after it and found a cave system. The Mulcahy family, on whose land it lies, have shown it ever since - the same family, for nearly two centuries, which is unusual in itself. Around two kilometres of passages are known and about half a kilometre is on the tour, through three main chambers including the Cathedral, a large chamber with a substantial column formation and good acoustics; guides sometimes sing in it. There are stalactites, stalagmites, curtains and flowstone throughout. Access is down a flight of about ninety steps and the passages are damp, cool at a constant nine degrees or so, and low in places. The nearby Desmond cave, where the Earl of Desmond hid in the 1580s, is a separate system and not the one shown here.

History

The cave was found by chance in May 1833 by Micheal Condon while he was quarrying limestone, and it soon drew visitors, who were guided through it by candlelight until 1972, when electric light and footpaths were installed and it became the first cave in Ireland developed for the public (Wikipedia, Mitchelstown Cave).

What's there

• The Cathedral chamber - the largest, with its column and acoustics.
• The formations - stalactites, stalagmites, curtains and flowstone.
• The 1833 discovery - found by a quarryman chasing a dropped crowbar.
• The family operation - shown by the same family since the discovery.

When to go

Any season; the cave holds a constant temperature around nine degrees, so bring a layer whatever the weather outside. Tours run at intervals through the day.

What to expect

About ninety steps down and back up, with low and damp sections - not suitable for limited mobility or claustrophobia. Guided tour only, roughly an hour. Cool underground year-round.

Nearby

Cahir Castle and the Swiss Cottage are north; the Galtee Mountains are west.

Key facts