240 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Acade7ny. 



In 1895 M. Martel, of Paris, visited the ISTew Cave ; but in his account he 

 makes only the barest mention of the Old Cave. 



In September, 1908, the authors visited the Old Cave, gaining access by 

 means of a rope-ladder. Owing to lack of time, complete exploration was 

 impossible ; but a general survey was made and data were collected sufficient 

 for the drawing up of a plan. 



This plan, included in the present paper, is the first of the Old Cave ever 

 published. 



Itinerary of the Old Cave. 



Access to the Old Cave is gained through a fissure in the side of a 

 small limestone hill at a point 230 yards to the west of the entrance 

 of the New Cave. The floor of this fissure inclines downwards between 

 vertical walls, which rapidly converge, and ends in a vertical drop of 

 20 feet, the descent of which can be negotiated by means of a ladder. 

 As the surrounding rock is everywhere undercut, it is impossible to descend — 

 or — more important perhaps— to ascend by any other means than by the 

 method indicated. Arrived at the bottom of this gap, you climb down a very 

 steep slope of talus, and in a short distance reach a low arch on the left, 

 which is the easier way to the cave beyond. The main fissure continues 

 onwards at a great height, and may be followed for some considerable 

 distance beyond this arch. It is indeed possible to rejoin the route now 

 about to be described by negotiating a vertical drop in the fissure and 

 another on its left hand side ; but the following is the easier way : — 



Passing under the low arch on the left, mentioned above, you bend at 

 once to the right and descend over loose boulders, which at the bottom are 

 cemented together by stalagmite, and emerge upon the floor of a level tunnel 

 15 feet high. Here you pass through water dripping from the roof ; in a 

 pool beneath the point at which the drip is most pronounced, a nest of fine 

 " cave pearls " was discovered. This tunnel is noteworthy — firstly, on 

 account of its configuration, which is uniformly level, lofty, and straight ; 

 and, secondly, from the many inscriptions on its walls — the earliest dating 

 back to 1602. 



Continuing straight onwards in a southerly direction for a distance of 

 76 yards, you are confronted at the furthest extremity of this tunnel 

 by a fine stalactite pillar uniting floor and ceiling, and arranged in three 

 tiers over a huge stalagmite base (Plate XYL, fig. 3). This pillar marks 

 the parting of the ways to the two great chambers beyond — the Eastern and 

 the Western. 



To reach the Eastern Chamber, you continue to the left of the pillar, 

 and, following the lead of the tunnel, which l^ends first left and then 



