Man who co-discovered Doolin Cave returns for 70th anniversary

SEVEN decades after the discovery of Doolin Cave one of the original cavers who made this amazing find returned to North Clare at the weekend to help mark the momentous anniversary.

Doolin Cave has celebrated its 70th birthday marking its discovery by cavers, Brian Varley and J M (Mike) Dickenson in 1952.

Brian, who celebrates his 90th birthday this year, returned to Doolin where a commemorative plaque acknowledging the cavers’ achievement was unveiled.

Helen Browne, proprietor of Doolin Cave Visitor Centre with husband John, explained that the plaque has been placed on the way into the cave so everybody who visits will be able to share in Brian and Mike’s story and the hard work which led to their great discovery.

“It was very special for us to be able to welcome Brian to Doolin Cave, he is such an amazing character. We were honoured to have him return to the cave to unveil a plaque dedicated to him and Mike, who is now deceased.

“We wouldn’t have Doolin Cave if it wasn’t for the fact that they went in and against all the odds made this find.

“If it wasn’t for their discovery, the Great Stalactite might never have been found, currently the largest of its kind in Europe,” Helen told The Champion.

In 1952 the pair were part of a group of explorers who arrived in Lisdoonvarna uncertain of what they might find, but excited by the prospect of journeying beneath the undocumented underworld of the Burren.

Named the ‘Whitsuntide Expedition’ because they arrived on the Whit or June Bank Holiday weekend, these intrepid adventurers had little idea that members of their team would stumble upon Doolin Cave.

The group of 12 men, most of whom were students, were part of an expedition sent by the Craven Hill Potholing Club from the Yorkshire Dales in Great Britain.

Nine of the 12 stayed in the Irish Arms Hotel in Lisdoonvarana and three camped on a nearby hillside.

On that Whit Sunday two of the men who had camped out, Brian Varley and JM Dickenson, broke from the group and decided to go exploring near a cliff face they had seen the previous day.

As they made their way across the limestone pavements, they noticed a small stream that seemed to disappear beneath the large cliff.

Following the water, they pulled back some boulders and dug their way into a narrow passageway and then crawled for about 500 metres, eventually reaching the main chamber of the cave.

This crawl has been described by other potholers that have visited the cave as being a “knee wrecking and miserable crawl”.

Arriving at the main chamber of the cave, the men described what they had seen.

“Scrambling over boulders, we stood speechless in a large chamber, of ample width, length and impressive height.”

“As our lamps circled this great hall we picked out a gigantic stalactite, certainly over 30 feet in length, the only formation in the chamber and set proudly in the very centre. It is really majestic and poised like the veritable sword of Damocles.

“With our headlamps inadequately flood lighting this huge formation we tip toed -believe it or not! – to the bottom of the chamber, not daring to speak lest the vibration of the first voices ever to sound in this hall since the beginning of time should cause it to shatter.”

Upon leaving the site, the men decided to pretend to the others in the group that they had found nothing as a joke, but were unable to contain their excitement.

Instead, when they met them, they jumped in the air shaking their fists recounting the tale of their discovery.

Speaking at the birthday celebrations Helen said, “Brian is celebrating his 90th birthday this year, and what better way to mark it than another great adventure across the Irish sea.

“We would like to thank Brian and his family for attending this intimate gathering, and for making the day so special and memorable.”

Jennie Browne, General Manager at Doolin Cave commented, “Without Brian Varley and Mike Dickenson’s incredible discovery back in 1952 we would not be able to show the public the geological wonder that is the Great Stalactite – the only one of its kind in Ireland.

“We hope to continue to educate and inspire future generations about the wonder of nature, and what can be hidden right beneath our feet.”

Doolin Cave offers underground guided tours to the Great Stalactite – as part of the cave tour, visitors will be brought into the main chamber in complete darkness, re-enacting the environment faced by Varley and Dickenson in 1952.

The guide will then switch on the cave light to reveal the Great Stalactite – at 7.3 metres long and weighing around 10 tonnes.

To continue the celebrations of the anniversary, Doolin Cave is offering visitors 10% off all cave tours in June with the promotional code: 70YEARS which can be used on the doolincave.ie