Kerry Caves

Mineral springs, simply chalybeate, are numerous. Of sulphuric chalybeates the principal is that called the Spa, about three miles from Tralee; and at Ballybeg, north-east of Dingle, is another highly impregnated. A saline spring at Magherybeg, in Corkaguiney, rises a little below high water mark out of a clear white sand: though covered twice a day by the tide, there is no variation in it.

Near Dowlas Head are several large natural caves, one of which is of magnificent dimensions, and in calm weather may be entered for 100 yards in a boat; the reverberation of the human voice in the interior sounds like a speaking trumpet. At Minegahane, near the Cashen, the sea breaking into the cavities of the shore produces a loud sound like the discharge of artillery; the noise generally precedes a change of weather, and not unfrequently occurs on the approach of a storm. A columnar cliff, called by the country people the Devil's Castle, stands to the north of Lick Castle, in the mouth of the Shannon, and is inaccessible except to the sea fowl. The whole shore hereabouts presents a succession of romantic caverns, extending from Ballybunnian to Kilconly Point.

But the great natural curiosities of this county are those of Killarney and its vicinity, described in the account of that place; besides which may be enumerated the transposed limestone and sandstone rocks, and the fairy rock, covered with impressions of feet, both near Kilgarvan; Lough Quinlan, with its floating islands, in the parish of Tuosist; and the caves and subterranean stream in the parish of Ratass. Kerry gives the inferior titles of Baron and Earl to the Marquess of Lansdowne, who also enjoys the titles of Viscount Clanmaurice and Baron of Lixnaw and Dunkerron, in the peerage of Ireland, all derived from districts in this county.