Kelly's Cave

Kelly's Cave
Uaimh Uí Cheallaigh
Location Nymphsfield, Cong, County Mayo
Length 16 m (52 ft)
Geology Carboniferous Limestone
Entrances 1

Kelly's Cave is a limestone solutional cave and National Monument in County Mayo, Ireland.

Location

Kelly's Cave lies in woodland 500 m (1,600 ft) northeast of Cong.

History

English antiquarian Wilfrid James Hemp suggested the cave may have had prehistoric use, comparing it to ancient caves in Sardinia.[1]

It has been suggested that the cave may have been extended and modified in the middle ages for use as a hermitage related to Cong Abbey.[2]

This cave is supposed to have taken its name from a fugitive named Kelly who took refuge there following the 1798 Rebellion.

Another local tradition claims that Kelly was a man who, along with his family, was forced to live there during the Penal era (17th–18th century). Kelly became a highwayman to survive.

Description

The cave is about 16 m (52 ft) long and consists of two rectangular chambers and a hole in the roof which acts as a skylight. Four steps lead down to an underground stream, and benches have been carved into the walls.[3][4]

References

Coordinates: 53°32′40″N 9°16′45″W / 53.544443°N 9.279192°W / 53.544443; -9.279192

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/31/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.