Kelly's Cave

Kelly's Cave
Uaimh Uí Cheallaigh
Location	Nymphsfield, Cong, County Mayo
OSI/OSNI grid	M 152 557
Coordinates	53°32′40″N9°16′45″W / 53.544443°N 9.279192°W / 53.544443; -9.279192
Length	16 m (52 ft)
Discovery	prehistoric
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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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

1. "Geology" (PDF). Mayolibrary.ie. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
2. Dowd, Marion (31 January 2015). The Archaeology of Caves in Ireland. Oxbow Books. ISBN   9781782978138 – via Google Books.
3. "Kelly's Cave". Lakedistrictheritage.ie. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
4. Wilde, William R. (1 January 1872). Lough Corrib, Its Shores and Islands: with Notices of Lough Mask. Lulu.com. ISBN   9781291406757 – via Google Books.