Underground river
Ending in a waterfall.
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Aillwee Cave is a show cave in the limestone Burren of north County Clare, Ireland, near the village of Ballyvaughan and about 21 km south of Galway city in a straight line. The cave runs under the slope of Aillwee Hill, which looks out over Galway Bay. A local farmer discovered the cave in 1944 when he followed his dog, which was chasing a rabbit, though cavers only explored it in 1973, and its known passages run for more than a kilometre into the hill. In 1976 the bones of two brown bears more than 10,000 years old were found in the cave. Its known formations are under 8,000 years old, while the calcite in some parts is more than 350,000 years old. The tour passes through passages hung with fine stalactites and studded with stalagmites, and an underground river runs through the cave, ending in a small waterfall. Visitors can see the bear remains inside, and the cave has been called the last bear den in Ireland. The cave is visited on guided tours, and the site also has a birds of prey centre with flying displays. It pairs well with a walk on the flat limestone pavements of the Burren nearby. The cave is cool all year, so bring a jacket.
Ending in a waterfall.
Over 10,000 years old.
Stalactites and stalagmites.
Ballyvaughan, The Burren, County Clare, Ireland
Yes, visits are on guided tours.
Yes, so bring a jacket.