Cave Exploration in Ireland ¹

Abstract

HERE is little doubt that the visit, a few years back, of the enthusiastic M. Martel, whose “Irlande et Cavernes anglaises ” forms such pleasant reading, did much to rouse new interest in Irish caves. Dr. Forsyth Major soon after examined the Irish fossil Mammalia in the Dublin Museum of Science and Art, where Dr. Scharff was at th same time summarising his researches on the origins of the European fauna; on this question the pre-Glacial and post-Glacial Pleistocene remains naturally throw a considerable light. Mr. R. J. Ussher, already distinguished by his published work on southern caves, was fortunately again willing to devote his time to exploration. Circumstances were thus favourable to the formation of a committee, which, aided by grants from the Royal Irish Academy and the British Association, has examined certain caves near Ballymote, in the county of Sligo, and is actively engaged on others near Edenvale, in Clare.