Kelly's Cave facts for kids

Kelly's Cave is a fascinating natural cave found in County Mayo, Ireland. It's made of limestone and is also a special National Monument. This means it's protected because of its history and importance.

Where is Kelly's Cave?

You can find Kelly's Cave hidden in a lovely woodland area. It's about 500 meters (or half a kilometer) northeast of a village called Cong.

The History of Kelly's Cave

People believe Kelly's Cave has been used for a very long time! An English expert named Wilfrid James Hemp thought it might have been used even in prehistoric times. He compared it to other old caves he studied in Sardinia.

Medieval Uses

Later, during the Middle Ages, some think the cave was changed a bit. It might have been used as a quiet place for a hermit. A hermit is someone who lives alone for religious reasons. This could have been connected to the nearby Cong Abbey.

How the Cave Got its Name

The cave gets its name from a local story. It's said that a person named Kelly hid here after a big event called the 1798 Rebellion. This was a time when people in Ireland fought for more freedom.

Another story says that a man named Kelly and his family had to live in the cave. This was during the Penal era (from the 1600s to the 1700s). These laws made life very hard for some people in Ireland. To survive, Kelly became a "highwayman," which meant he would stop travelers on roads to take their money or goods.

What Kelly's Cave Looks Like

Kelly's Cave is about 16 meters (or 52 feet) long. It has two main rooms that are shaped like rectangles. There's also a hole in the roof that lets in light, like a natural skylight!

Inside, you'll find four steps that lead down to an underground stream. There are also benches carved right into the cave walls, which might have been used by people resting there long ago.