Doolin Cave

Early in the morning, we set off for Doolin Cave. Even the bus ride was an adventure, winding through narrow roads by the cliffs. After a 1.5-hour journey, we arrived in the Burren. Our delightful tour began at the entrance of the breathtaking cave, home to Europe's largest stalactite. The cave was explored in 1952 by Brian Varley and Mike Dickerson, and a memorial for the 70th anniversary stands at the entrance.
Right after the small entrance, we descended 125 steps, approximately 22 meters. After the slightly eerie descent, we were given helmets, which proved very useful as the paths were narrow, causing us to bump our heads frequently-an amusing yet practical accessory. The guide led us to a pitch-dark spot and reminded us that when the explorers first discovered the cave, they were in complete darkness. He explained how they realized they had found a cave when their voices echoed. At that moment, he switched on the light, revealing the stunning stalactite, about 7 meters long and weighing 10 tons, making it the third largest in the world, and approximately 350,000 years old.
After a few awe-inspiring moments, we made our way back to the surface. Following a hike through the Burren and a look at the "unique" local animals, our group returned to Galway. After a short break, we headed to "Trad on the Prom" at the Leisureland Theatre, where our dance instructor had a performance. We were treated to a wonderful show of singing and dancing, featuring even world champions in Riverdance. The songs were performed in two
languages Gaeilge and
English. The two-hour show was a beautiful end to an extraordinary day.
20.06.24 Doolin CaveLæs mere