Aillwee Cave

Aillwee Cave ( Irish: Pluaiseanna na Haille BUI ) is a show cave, which is located about 30 kilometers south of Galway, near Ballyvaughan, on the west side of Ireland in the karst region of the Burren of County Clare. The cave was discovered accidentally in 1940 by the Irish Farmer Jacko McGann. His initials can be found sporadically in the cave today. The Gaelic name, Aillwee (An Aill bhuí ), means " yellow cliff ." The discoverer kept his secret to himself and others has reported just before his death in the 70s of the last century of the cave.

A group of researchers from the University of Bristol under the direction of Edgar Kingsley Tratman has then examined the cave. In this research it has been discovered bones of the brown bear. In addition, old dormitories of the animal were found. Scientists estimate that the animal must have held there in hibernation.

Since the year 1976, the cave is open to the public. Visitors can go on a tour 1.3 km through the cave. Here, stalactites and stalagmites are shown and explained their origin. Furthermore, the tour takes you past underground waterfalls.