Mitchelstown Cave
| Mitchelstown Cave | |
| County Tipperary | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 1905 photo of speleothems in Mitchelstown Cave | |
| R946176 | |
| Co-ordinates: | 52°18’36"N, 8°4’48"W |
| Access: | Show cave access only |
| Geology: | Limestone |
Mitchelstown Cave (also known as New Cave)[1][2] is a limestone cave in County Tipperary, near Burncourt in that county, close to the border of County Cork to the west.
The cave is to be found seven and a half miles from Mitchelstown, County Cork, it became the first cave in Ireland to be developed as a show cave for the public in 1972.[3]
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The cave though named from nearby Mitchelstown in County Cork, is itself across the border in Tipperary,[1] off the R639 Mitchelstown. 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 Tír na Nóg has hosted musical events including a performance by the Celtic Tenors.[3]
History
While the presence of a nearby cave (referred to variously as Old Cave, Old Mitchelstown Cave or Desmond Cave) has been known in the area at least as far back as 1777,[1][2] Mitchelstown Cave aka "New Cave" was discovered accidentally by Laura Condon, a farm worker on 3 May 1833.[4] The Mitchelstown Caves are so called, in spite of their distance from Mitchelstown, due to their location on the old estate of the Earls of Kingston. The lord of the estate had his seat in Mitchelstown Castle.[1]
Mitchelstown Cave was first explored and mapped in 1834 by James Apjohn,[5] and subsequently visited by a large number of eminent naturalists and speleologists. In August 1857 Alexander Henry Haliday visited with Edward Percival Wright and recorded a number of animal species present.[6] Members of the Dublin, Cork and Limerick Naturalist Field Clubs took part in a trip to the cave in July 1894 and also reported on the fauna found within.[7][8] In 1895, Édouard-Alfred Martel and H. Lyster Jameson visited and completed a new cave survey.[9]
In 1908 the cave was thoroughly explored and resurveyed again by Dr C. A. Hill, Dr A. Rule and Harold Brodrick of the Yorkshire Ramblers' Club, along with Robert Lloyd Praeger. A survey of Old Cave was also completed at this time.[2][10]
Jackie English decided to make the cave more accessible to the public by putting in electricity and steps, this work was completed in 1972. It took 7 years to complete this work and the footprints of the two main workers can still be seen at the foot of the Tower of Babel. Prior to this work all visitors had to enter the cave using Tilly lamps and a rope ladder.
Outside links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Coleman, J. C. (1965). The Caves of Ireland. Tralee, Co. Kerry: Anvil Press. pp. 18–22.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hill, C. A. (1908). "Mitchelstown Cave (abstract)". Irish Naturalist (Dublin: Eason & Son) 17: 239. https://archive.org/stream/irishnaturalist17roya#page/238/mode/2up. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hayes Curtin, Brian (2011-01-26). "Going underground". Cork Independent. http://www.imallow.ie/?nc=1&ns=1028. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ↑ Foot, Arthur Wynne (1878). "An account of a visit to the cave of Dunmore, Co. Kilkenny, with some remarks on human remains found therein". Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 4 (Dublin) I: 67. https://archive.org/stream/journalofroyalso11royauoft#page/67. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ↑ Apjohn, Dr. (1834–1835). "On the Mitchelstown Cave". Dublin Penny Journal 3: 203–208. https://books.google.com/books?id=9gLSAAAAMAAJ&q=doctor%20%2Bapjohn&pg=PA203. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ↑ Edward Percival Wright (1857). "Notes of a visit to Mitchelstown Caves". Natural History Review (London: Williams & Norgate) 4: 231–241. https://archive.org/details/naturalhistoryre04dubl. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ↑ George Herbert Carpenter (February 1895). "Animals Found in the Mitchelstown Cave". Irish Naturalist (Dublin: Eason & Son) 4 (2): 5–35. https://archive.org/details/irishnaturalist04roya. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ↑ Hilderic Friend (February 1895). "A New Form of Irish Earthworm". Irish Naturalist (Dublin: Eason & Son) 4 (2): 35–36. https://archive.org/details/irishnaturalist04roya. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ↑ Ernest A. Baker (April 1896). "Mitchelstown Cave". Irish Naturalist (Dublin: Eason & Son) 5 (4): 101–105, Plate 2. https://archive.org/details/irishnaturalist05roya. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
- ↑ Hill, C.; Broderick, H.; Rule, A. (1909). "The Mitchelstown Caves, Co. Tipperary". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section B (Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co. Ltd) 27: 235–268, Plates XIV–XVII.
- Apjohn, Dr. (1834–1835). "On the Mitchelstown Cave". Dublin Penny Journal 3: 203–208. https://books.google.com/books?id=9gLSAAAAMAAJ&q=doctor%20%2Bapjohn&pg=PA203.
- Ernest A. Baker (February 1906). "A visit to Mitchelstown Cave". Irish Naturalist (Dublin: Eason & Son) 15 (2): 29–36. https://archive.org/details/irishnaturalist1519roya.
- Hill, C.; Broderick, H.; Rule, A. (1909). "The Mitchelstown Caves, Co. Tipperary". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section B (Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co. Ltd) 27: 235–268, Plates XIV–XVII.
- Coleman, J. C. (1965). The Caves of Ireland. Tralee, Co. Kerry: Anvil Press. pp. 18–22.