Photo: Helmut Zozmann · CC BY-SA 2.0 · editedAillwee Cave
Adult EUR 28 · Child EUR 18 · Family Ticket 1 EUR 62
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MarvinVells · CC BY-SA 3.0 · edited
Why go
- Calcite in the cave’s recesses dates back more than 350,000 years.
- Bones of two brown bears found here were dated to more than 10,000 years old.
- The on-site Birds of Prey Centre offers shows and hawk walks.
Plan your visit
Prices
From the venue's website · checked 28 Oct 2026
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 17:00Show all
Don't miss
- Underground waterfallsThe guided cave route passes underground waterfalls.Along the guided cave route
- Europa Nostra-winning entrance buildingThe entrance building received the Europa Nostra prize and houses a café and gift shop.At the cave entrance
- Stalactites and stalagmitesSee large formations along the show cave tour and learn how they form.Along the show cave tour
Shorts
Interesting facts6
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The cave passages extend for more than a kilometre into the mountain.
Aillwee Cave - Wikipedia -
The caves appeared as “The Very Dark Caves” in the Father Ted episode “The Mainland.”
Aillwee Cave - Wikipedia -
Aillwee comes from the Irish Aill Bhuí, meaning “yellow cliff.”
Aillwee Cave - Wikipedia -
The cave once carried a large stream, but glacial deposits have largely filled its passage.
Aillwee Cave - Wikipedia -
The cave complex is an active partner of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.
Aillwee Cave - Wikipedia -
McGann’s initials can still be found in places inside the cave.
Aillwee Cave - Wikipedia
History
A research team from the University of Bristol, led by Edgar Kingsley Tratman, investigated the cave.
- 1944Farmer Jack McGann discovered the cave after following his dog, which was chasing a rabbit.
- 1973McGann kept the discovery to himself until 1973, when he told cavers. That summer they explored as far as a boulder choke.
- 1977Explorers cleared the boulder choke and reached the rest of the cave.
- 1992A tunnel called Marine Blast was completed, creating a circular route.
Know before you go
- Tours finish at a point called the Highway and leave through a 250-metre man-made tunnel.
Sources: Aillwee Cave - Wikipedia · Aillwee Cave - Wikipedia · checked 27 Sep 2026
- Phone
- 00353657077036
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
How old are the formations visible on the Aillwee Cave tour?
They are generally under 8,000 years old; calcite samples in cave recesses are more than 350,000 years old.
Are there traces of Aillwee Cave’s discoverer inside?
McGann’s initials survive in places inside the cave.
What links Aillwee Cave to the surrounding landscape?
The cave complex is an active partner of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.
How much of Aillwee Cave was open in 2018?
About 300 metres of passages, described at the time as around one third of the cave.
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