Crag Cave

Crag Cave, located in Castleisland, County Kerry, was discovered in 1983 and is estimated to be over one million years old. It is one of the Most Beautiful Caves in Ireland and one of Ireland's longest caves, with two levels. Guides lead visitors on 30-minute tours through 400m of the 3.8km-long cave, allowing them to see the stalagmites and stalactites. Bring a coat because the temperature inside the cave is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit! The Crag Cave visitor center includes a restaurant and gift shop.

While the Geological Survey of Ireland recognized the presence of "caves worn by water, some of which can be traversed for some distance" in 1859, positive exploration efforts did not begin until 1981, when the upper part of the cave was explored to a sump known as the "Green Lake." When hydrological testing of water in both the cave's active stream way and the sump revealed that the two were chemically distinct, it was hypothesized that the sump was only "perched" above the water table and that further dry passage could be found on the far side. Martyn Farr dived the sump in 1983, providing the first access to the large caverns beyond. A nearby boulder obstruction was cleared, allowing a dry connection into the new chambers. Following the breakthrough, 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) of the passageway were explored and surveyed. Further exploration and surveying between 1981 and 1985 increased the cave's total length to 3.81 km (2.37 mi), with a vertical range of approximately 15 m. (49 ft). The entire cave system runs beneath Castleisland, beginning at Glounsharoon and ending on the outskirts of town at the Killarney Road.

Location: Crag, Castleisland, Co. Kerry, Ireland