| Location: |
Craggycoraddon West, Doolin.
Near Lisdoonvarna.
Tours start at Brauch Na Haille Restaurant, Doolin Village. |
| Open: |
APR to NOV daily 9-17. [2008] |
| Fee: |
Adults EUR 15, Children EUR 8, Family EUR 50. 10% on-line booking discount. [2008] |
| Classification: |
 Karst cave.
|
| Light: | electric |
| Dimension: | |
| Guided tours: | L=100m, D=30min. |
| Bibliography: |
Graham Mullan ed. (2003):
Caves Of County Clare And South Galway,
259 pp, 92 figs, includes colour photos and surveys. This is the third and latest in a series of caving guide to this area. See page 108-109 for a description of Pol-an-Ionain (Doolin Cave). |
| Address: |
Doolin Cave, Doolin, County Clare, Tel: +353-65-707-5761.
E-mail: |
| Last update: | $Date: 2008/10/12 23:32:55 $ |
| 1952 | cave and Great Stalactite discovered by Brian Varley and Mike Dickinson. | |
| 1991 | first attempt by the Brownes, to develop the cave. | |
| FEB-1992 | explored by Nigel Barnes. | |
| 1999 | development of cave is given the go ahead by Clare County Council. | |
| 2000 | the Brownes secured planning once more. | |
| 2001 | An Bord Pleanála refused the second application, the Brownes were unable to complete the required Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). | |
| 2004 | Clare County Council granted planning permission to develop the cave. | |
| 2003 | opened to the public. |
Doolin Cave, located in the Burren area, has been known for a long time under the name Pol-an-Ionian to cavers. Like most caves here it has numerous crawls and a river, which makes a visit both strenuous and dangerous. Protected by a low passage of some length a hall opens, which contains an extraordinary stalactite of 6.54m length called Great Stalactite [sic]. The given length differs, depending on the source, between 11m and 6.2m, but 6.54m seems to be the true value. What makes it more impressive is the fact that the stalactite is held on by a section of calcite less than 0.3m². A fragile and beautiful speleothem, you may find numerous pictures of it on the web.
According to older issues of the Guiness Book of World Records the Great Stalactite is the longest stalactite of the world. If it has been true, it definitely is not any more. The owners of the show cave call it "...one of the largest free hanging stalactites in the world and the longest stalactite in the Northern Hemisphere." While the first does not really say much and is thus correct and acceptable, the second statement is definitely wrong. The Great Stalactite is simply the longest stalactite in Ireland. For more info on this, have a look at our page of Caves With The Longest Stalactite.
John and Helen Browne of Roadford, Doolin were planning to develop the cave and build a visitor centre with interpretative facilities, a restaurant, a treatment plant, and space for 70 cars. In order to access the chamber with the stalactite, the Brownes proposed to excavate a 97m long tunnel from the surface.
The development and the construction of the tunnel required drilling and low-level blasting. There was a high risk that rock blasting would destroy the main reason for the development: the Great Stalactite. Vibrations and shock waves could have destroyed the thin support of the stalactite. However, there were disputes with a land owner and other delays, the plan was modified, the Brownes were unable to complete the required Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and so fourth. The third attemt to get planning permission by the Clare County Council in 2004 was 13 years after the first attempt. However, finally in 2006 the cave was opened to the public. The tours start at the visitor center at Doolin and visitors are transported to the cave by coach. There are no surface installations at the cave beneath the entrance.
This story is rather strange, as there is not much sense in another show cave so close to Aillwee Cave. This new cave has only one single highlight, the Great Stalactite, and despite the official claims for eco-tourism, the development of the show cave was serious nature destruction. It seems the official statement to restrict visitors extremely is the attempt to make the visit more interesting.
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