Aillwee Cave
Uaimh Aill Mhuí
A limestone cave in the Burren with guided tours through underground rivers, waterfalls, and the remains of an extinct brown bear, plus a birds of prey centre.
Uaimh Aill Mhuí lies just north of the Burren near Ballyvaughan and was discovered by a local farmer in 1944. The roughly 35-minute guided tour leads deep into the mountain through the cave passages, where you can see stalactites, underground waterfalls, and the bear pits and bones left behind by brown bears that hibernated here during the Ice Age.
The site also includes the Burren Birds of Prey Centre, which hosts daily flying displays featuring eagles, owls, and falcons, as well as a farmhouse cheese shop.
Tickets must be purchased in advance, and there are combined tickets for the cave and the birds of prey centre. It's a great choice for families and rainy-day itineraries. The drive from Galway takes about an hour.
Opening hours
About 10:00 am–5:30 pm (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Ballyvaughan
- Poulnabrone Dolmen
- Caherconnell Stone Fort
- Flaggy Shore
- Corcomroe Abbey
- Leamaneh Castle
- Burren Perfumery
- Kilfenora Cathedral & High Crosses