The cave is located near Mitchelstown, County Cork, but is actually in Tipperary [1] off the R639 Mitchelstown. It is a privately owned local landmark and tourist destination, with a number of caverns open to the public through a guided tour. Noteworthy speleothems include the Tower of Babel column. The largest cavern, known as the Tír na Nóg has hosted musical events including a performance by the Celtic Tenors.[3]
While the presence of a nearby cave (referred to variously as Old Cave, Old Mitchelstown Cave or Desmond Cave) has been known in the area at least as far back as 1777,[1][2] Mitchelstown Cave aka "New Cave" was discovered accidentally by Laura Condon, a farm worker on 3 May 1833.[4] The Mitchelstown Caves are so called, in spite of their distance from Mitchelstown, due to their location on the old Kingston estate. The lord of the estate, Lord Kingsborough, had his seat in Mitchelstown Castle.[1]
19th century lithograph of a calcite column in "Kingston Cave".
In 1908 the cave was thoroughly explored and surveyed again by Dr C. A. Hill, Dr A. Rule and Harold Brodrick of the Yorkshire Ramblers' Club, along with Robert Lloyd Praeger. A survey of Old Cave was also completed at this time.[2][10]
Jackie English decided to make the cave more accessible to the public by putting in electricity and steps, this work was completed in 1972. It took 7 years to complete this work and the footprints of the two main workers can still be seen at the foot of the Tower of Babel. Prior to this work all visitors had to enter the cave using Tilly lamps and a rope ladder.
Hill, C.; Broderick, H.; Rule, A. (1909). "The Mitchelstown Caves, Co. Tipperary". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section B. 27. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co. Ltd: 235–268, Plates XIV–XVII. JSTOR20516959.
Coleman, J. C. (1965). The Caves of Ireland. Tralee, Co. Kerry: Anvil Press. pp. 18–22.
