What is recorded here

Donal Hogan found the hidden cave in December 2020, exposing a narrow limestone chamber that held forgotten pottery and animal bones. The small entrance faces east, catching light and offering a wide view across the Burren while the chamber remains shadowed and tight. It sits among old burial monuments and cashels, suggesting people have used this place since the Bronze Age.

On the NE flanks of a hill in the eastern Burren some 4.3km NW of Carron village. A number of pottery sherds and animal bones were discovered in a previously unknown cave in December 2020 by a caver, Donal Hogan. The cave was inspected and assessed under licence by Dr. Marion Dowd in 2021 (Licence no. 21E297). The following details are from that report. A natural limestone cave (max. L 2.7m; max. H 1.9m) with the entrance (Wth 0.5m; H 0.45m) oriented NE commanding panoramic views. There is a drop (0.7m) inside the entrance to a passage (Wth c. 0.8m; L 1.5m) that opens into an oval-shaped chamber (1m x 1.2m). At the junction of the passage and chamber there is a second drop of 0.4m. There is a concentration of Early Bronze Age and early medieval monuments in the vicinity. A wedge tomb (CL005, 160027-) lies c. 200m to the NW while two cists (CL005-160047- and CL005-160028-) lie c. 200m to the S. A cashel (CL005-160031-) is located c. 150m to the S, a second cashel (CL005-160026-) is c. 200m to the W and a third cashel (CL005-160033-) is c. 230m to the SE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 18 November 2027

The cave is located in the limestone karst landscape of the Burren, formed through dissolution processes typical of the region. Pottery sherds and animal bones found within suggest possible Neolithic or early Bronze Age human activity.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.