Access Show cave access only Geology Limestone | Phone +353 52 746 7246 Discovery 1833 | |
Location Between Mitchelstown, County Cork and Cahir, County Tipperary Address Mitchelstown Cave, Burncourt,, E21 H920, Cahir, Co. Tipperary, Ireland Hours Closed now Tuesday10AM–4PMWednesday10AM–4PMThursday10AM–4PMFriday(Saint Patrick's Day)10AM–4PMHours might differSaturday10AM–4PMSunday10AM–4PMMonday10AM–4PM Similar Swiss cottage - Cahir, Cahir Castle, Bru Boru, Knockmealdown Mountains, Hore Abbey Profiles | ||
Mitchelstown Cave is a limestone cave near Burncourt, County Tipperary, Ireland. Situated 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Mitchelstown, County Cork, it became the first cave in Ireland to be developed for the public in 1972.
Contents
The cave is located in the townland of Coolagarranroe, off the R639 between Mitchelstown and Cahir. It is a privately owned local landmark and tourist destination, with a number of caverns open to the public through a guided tour. Noteworthy speleothems include the Tower of Babel column. The largest cavern, known as the Concert Hall, has hosted musical events including a performance by the Celtic Tenors.
Musical night in mitchelstown caves
History
While the presence a cave has been known in the area for at least as far back as 1777, Mitchelstown Cave was discovered accidentally by Michael Condon, a farm worker on 3 May 1833. It was first explored and mapped in 1834 by James Apjohn, and subsequently visited by a large number of eminent naturalists and speleologists including Édouard-Alfred Martel in 1895 and H. Lyster Jameson, who first described the fauna found within the cave. In 1908 the cave was thoroughly explored and resurveyed by Dr. C. A. Hill, Dr. A. Rule, Harold Brodrick of the Yorkshire Ramblers' Club and Robert Lloyd Praeger.