Aillwee Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aillwee Cave |
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| McGanns Cave | |
Inside Aillwee Cave
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| Location | County Clare, Ireland |
| Length | 1,030 metres (3,380 ft) |
| Elevation | 92 metres (302 ft) |
| Discovery | 1944. Explored 1973 onwards |
| Geology | Carboniferous limestone |
| Access | Show cave |
| Show cave length | 1,130 metres (3,710 ft) (inc. exit tunnel) |
| Lighting | Electric |
Aillwee Cave is an amazing cave system located in a unique rocky area called a karst landscape. You can find it in the Burren in County Clare, Ireland. The name Aillwee comes from the Irish words Aill Bhuí, which mean "yellow cliff." This cave is privately owned and is part of a fun attraction called the Aillwee Cave and Birds of Prey Centre.
Contents
Exploring Aillwee Cave
This cave system has over a kilometer of passages that go deep into the mountain. Inside, you'll discover cool features like an underground river and a waterfall. There are also huge stalactites (rock formations hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (rock formations growing from the floor).
You can even see the bones of ancient bears inside the caves. Some people think this might have been the very last place bears lived in Ireland! Aillwee Cave is like many other caves in Clare. It mainly has passages carved out by streams and ends where the water fills up the passage.
How Old is Aillwee Cave?
Aillwee Cave is much older than most other caves in the Clare area. It used to have a very large stream flowing through it. Today, most of that stream has disappeared from the cave. The cave is also filled with a lot of material left behind by glaciers.
The amazing rock formations you see on the public tour are usually less than 8,000 years old. However, scientists have found older rock samples deeper inside the cave. These samples are more than 350,000 years old!
How Aillwee Cave Was Found
The cave was first discovered in 1944 by a farmer named Jack McGann. He was following his dog, who was chasing a rabbit, when they stumbled upon the cave entrance. Jack didn't explore very far into the cave at that time. He also kept his discovery a secret for almost 30 years!
Opening Up the Cave
In 1973, Jack finally told some cave explorers about his find. That summer, they explored the cave until they reached a big pile of rocks that blocked their way. Soon after, work began to make the cave safe and ready for visitors.
The big pile of rocks was finally cleared away in 1977. This allowed explorers to access the rest of the cave system. Later, in 1992, a special tunnel called the "Marine Blast" was built. This tunnel helps visitors complete a full loop inside the cave.
Ancient Bear Bones
In 1976, explorers made an exciting discovery: the bones of two brown bears! Scientists later figured out that these bones were over 10,000 years old. Back then, only about 1,000 people lived in all of Ireland.
Visiting Aillwee Cave
Aillwee Cave first opened its doors to the public in 1976. As of 2018, about 300 meters (or one-third of the cave's total length) is open for people to explore. The guided tours end at a spot called the Highway. From there, visitors exit the cave through a 250-meter-long tunnel that was built by people.
The building where you enter the cave is quite special. It even won an award called the Europa Nostra prize! At the cave, you can also find a café to grab a snack and a gift shop to buy souvenirs.
Birds of Prey Centre
Right at the same location as Aillwee Cave, there's also a fantastic Birds of Prey Centre. Here, you can watch amazing shows featuring different birds of prey. They even offer "hawk walks," where you can get up close with these incredible birds!
Working Together
The Aillwee Cave complex is part of the local tourism group. It also works closely with the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark. This partnership helps protect the unique natural environment of the area.
Rock Climbing Nearby
If you're interested in rock climbing, there's a popular spot for beginners. It's called Aill na Cronain and is just 400 meters north of the upper car park at the caves.
See also
In Spanish: Cueva de Aillwee para niños
