"Mitchelstown Caves"

	Mitchelstown Caves are located in county Tipperary 12 kilometres east of Mitchelstown. Mitchelstown Caves are open year-round for guided tours. The tours are approximately 3 kilometres in length going through several caverns with examples of different types of formations many of which are given colourful names. The caves were discovered in 1833 when a farm labourer dropped his crowbar into a crevasse while quarrying limestone. What was discovered is a prehistoric cave of great beauty and scientific interest. The limestone being dissolved by rainwater percolating through the soil and stone is redeposited in the cave as the drops of water evaporate in the air forming stalactites, stalagmites, calcite columns, and flow stones among other examples of formations which are to be seen in the caves. Considering that it takes over a thousand years for a stalagmite or stalactite to grow a few centimetres the formations found in Mitchelstown Caves are highly impressive. Examples of 350 million year old fossils are to be seen as well as some cave fauna.

Name	Address	Phone	Fax/e-mail
Mitchelstown Caves	Burncourt, Cahir, Co.Tipperary, Ireland.	+353 (0)52 67246