The Scientific Tourist through Ireland: in which the traveller is directed to the principal objects of antiquity, art, science & the picturesqueWalford, Thomas
History
The Scientific Tourist through Ireland: in which the traveller is directed to the principal objects of antiquity, art, science & the picturesque
Walford, Thomas
Ireland -- Description and travel
DUNMORE CAVE, 5 m. N.W. of Kilkenny, is one of the most remarkable in
the island. Proceed to the Ch. of Mothe, a little to the southward of
which, in a field on the slope of a gently rising hill, is the mouth
of the cave, which opens into a large oval pit, about 40 or 50 yards
wide, apparently formed by the sinking in of the surface, at the
eastern end. To this there is a descent of 70 feet from the opposite
quarter, over the rubbish of stone and clay; but the other sides of
the pit are perpendicular. Rabbits often burrow near the entrance;
and the first cavern, which is spacious, but of an irregular form, is
generally a shelter for wild pigeons. To the roof of this cavern is an
altitude of at least 50 feet; the floor slopes downwards, and towards
the left the tourist arrives at a narrow passage which leads by a
slippery ascent to the interior cavern. The difficulty of approach to
this spot is amply repaid by the wonders within, where a great variety
of stalagmitic concretions, added to the rugged forms of the rocks,
exhibit a most singular and striking appearance. The tourist who
wishes to explore all the wonders, must now proceed to the upper end,
which becomes much narrower, but soon expands into a larger apartment.
Beyond this there are other winding passages and other caves; but as
neither Mr. Wakefield nor Mr. Walker seems to have explored them, it
perhaps remains for some adventurous tourist to discover wonders equal
to the caves of Trophonius or even Montesinos. Those who choose not to
proceed further may consult Mr. Tighe's Survey of the County, where
various other circumstances are stated. It is said that one of those
passages leads to the other side of the hill, where day-light may be
seen to enter through a narrow chink. In another of the inner caverns,
imagination supposes the calcareous concretions to have assumed the
form of an organ; in another, of a cross and altar. A stream of
water passes through the cavern at a considerable distance from its
entrance; and many skulls and other human bones have been found near
to it, also in the more interior passages beyond it. Some of these
skulls have been seen petrified, as it is called, or covered with the
calcareous spar. The mineralogist may here pick up some specimens of
an indurated clay, tinted by carbon, and called in the vicinity black
chalk. Upon the whole, a visit to this place cannot fail to be highly
gratifying to the tourist; though he will meet with some difficulties
in exploring it, as the bottom is always damp and slippery, and rugged
withal, from the stalactites formed by the dripping water on its very
irregular flooring.
ENNISTEAGUE, or INNISTIOGUE, 12 m. S.E. of Kilkenny, has a handsome
Bridge and some pleasing scenery.--See the enchanting and picturesque
glen at Woodstock, near Glanmore, with ruins of Ch. and Castle, in
whose winding recesses nature and art have done every thing possible
to embellish the scene.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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