PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
169 
Mr. J. G. Robertson read the following paper on the 
CAVE OF DUNMORE. 
Some time ago having submitted for the inspection of our very zealous secretary, 
the Rev. James Graves, manuscript notes and rough sketches descriptive of the 
Cave of Dunmore, which had been prepared by the late William Robertson, Esq., 
architect, Mr. Graves suggested that I might, from these materials, construct a 
paper interesting to Kilkenny people. I now appear before you with the fruits of 
my attempt to do so. 
Previous to entering upon the description of this remarkable Cave, I will briefly 
state the circumstances under which such caves are supposed to have been formed, 
according to the theory of the highest authorities in geology—viz., Buckland and 
Lyell. They say u that to the solvent power of water, surcharged with car¬ 
bonic acid, and percolating various winding rents and fissures, we may ascribe 
those innumerable subterranean cavities and winding passages, which traverse the 
limestone in our own and many other countries.” 
Dr. Buckland has also observed, that caves in limestone are usually connected 
with fissures in the rock in which they exist. The growth of stalactites and stalag¬ 
mites in caverns and grottos is a familar example of calcareous precipitates. 
The Cave of Dunmore, which possesses all these peculiarities in its formation, 
has been often visited and described by travellers. Amongst the works in which an 
account of it is given, I may mention an “ Anonymous Tour“ Guthrie’s 
Geography” (Article, Ireland) ; “ Watkinson’s Survey u Tighe’s Survey of the 
county of Kilkennyand that powerful work of fiction, by our own celebrated 
townsman, Banim, “ Crohoore of the Bill-hook.” I shall borrow from the above- 
mentioned writers; but as I think that Mr. Robertson’s notes not only embrace all 
that has been given by these authorities, but treat the subject with greater accu¬ 
racy as regards details, and, at the same time, in as picturesque a style, I purpose 
to make the greater use of them. 
The word Dunmore is derived from two Irish words, signifying the Great Fort , 
from a rath which is situate in the parish. We learn from the following passage in 
the “ Annals of the Eour Master^,” that the Cave was known at so early a period 
as A.D. 928 :—“Godfrey, grandson of Imhar, with the foreigners of Ath-cliath, 
demolished and plundered Dearc-Fearna, where one thousand persons were killed 
in this year.” Dr. O’Donovan, the learned editor, being of opinion that Dearc- 
Eearna was the ancient name of the Cave of Dunmore. We also find by a note in 
“Wilde’s Beauties of the Boyne,” that this remarkable Cave, under the name of 
Dearc-Fearna is alluded to in an ancient manuscript in the Library of Trinity 
College, Dublin, called the “ Irish Triads,” where it is mentioned as one of the 
darkest caves in Ireland. 
The Cave of Dunmore was, perhaps, the most remarkable in Ireland until the 
discovery, in the year 1833, of the more extensive caves of Mitchelstown ; it is still 
the principal natural curiosity of this county, and is thus described in the journal 
of Mr. Robertson, who appears to have visited it in the month of August, 1816 :— 
“ The Cave is situated on the property of the Marquis of Ormonde, and is distant 
about four miles from Kilkenny, on the Castlecomer road, nearly opposite to the 
beautifully wooded demesne of Jenkinstown, the residence of George Bryan, Esq., 
upon which you look down from the summit of the hill which contains the Cave, 
and in which its mouth or entrance is. From the high road you approach the 
Cave by a narrow and bad bye-road, scarcely passable for a vehicle of any kind 
except a common car, and you gradually ascend one of those bold levels, which 
project from the ridge of hills that run towards Castlecomer. Nothing indicates 
the site of the Cave, until you come suddenly upon it, when an oval opening pre¬ 
sents itself about one hundred and thirty-four feet in its longest diameter, by 
ninety-four feet in its shortest. 
“ Perpendicularly under you yawns the abyss, into which you must descend to 
enter the Cave; its lips, or edges, are fringed with green sward and brushwood in 
a very picturesque manner; but, with the exception of a few thorns, devoid of any 
trees. The descent into it is by a winding path, which is very precipitous, the fall 
being about five feet in every eleven. As you descend, the limestone rock, in which 
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