Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeCave
- Recorded sizeH 1.7m; W 0.76m
- StatusNational Monument
What to look for
- Entrance
- Chamber
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
In densely wooded karst. This cave is a as National Monument (No. 413) in state ownership.
Full archaeological record 146 words
In densely wooded karst. This cave is a as National Monument (No. 413) in state ownership. Twelve steps descend to sunken forecourt; sides supplemented by dry-stone walling, leading S to entrance. Entrance (H 1.7m; Wth 0.76m) gives access to chamber (L 15.3m N-S; H 3m - 4.5m; Wth 2.6m - 3.3m), in artifically enlarged cave. Two stone benches (L 7.5m and L 4m) set along E and W walls, respectively. Recess (D 1m) set in W wall, 1.8m above floor level, contains dry-stone table. Chamber lighted from overhead by triangular shaped opening. Floor carefully paved by narrow cobbles. At end of chamber four steps lead down to D-shaped well (L 1.5m; Wth 2m). Excavated by Bersu, who concluded (1948, unpublished draft excavation report) that the cave was a place of worship rather than of secular use and could date 'tentatively' to the twelfth to fourteenth century.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 6 September 2013. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
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Around Kelly's Cave
Other heritage nearby
- Cong AbbeyAbbey or friary · 0.7 km
- The Monk's Fishing HouseCastle · 0.7 km
- Caherduff CastleCastle · 2.4 km
- TobernagleedahHoly well · 5.4 km
- Saint Patrick's ChurchAncient church · 7.0 km
- TemplenaneeveAncient church · 7.0 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 30 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 stone circlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 cavesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Cong - Nature loopWalking Trail · 2.2 km · nearest point 0.7 km
- Cong - Pigeon loopWalking Trail · 4.3 km · nearest point 0.7 km
- Cong Forest - Cong Nature trailWalking Trail · 1.3 km · nearest point 1.0 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Ard na GaoitheForests · 2.9 km
- Clonbur WoodForests · 5.4 km
- Leam West Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 19 km
Other attractions nearby
- Corrib Cruises & Corrib FerriesNature and Wildlife · 0.7 km
- Cong AbbeyHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.7 km
- The Monk's Fishing HouseHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.8 km
- Ireland's School of FalconryNature and Wildlife · 1.2 km
What's on nearby
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