Cork Speleological Group

08/06/2026

We would like to sincerely thank to:
Gene Buckley Industrial Sales, www.gbis.ie for his generous support of our preparations for the Palawan Expedition 2027.

Gene Buckley sells engineering components to industry

07/06/2026

Return to Ballyfin Cave
Today, Sunday 7th June, six members of the CSG; Stan, Ela, Kasia, Orlagh, Matthew and Monika returned to the Ballyfin Cave near Cloyne. Arriving at the parking place they changed into their caving gear, checked that their caving lamps were fully charged, made sure that they had spare lighting in their bags and set off across the fields to the cave entrance. On the way there they aroused the interest of cattle grazing in the field but they were more interested in their grass dinner than the cavers so no running was required.

At the beginning, the group concentrated on widening a passage that looked promising and that had already been partially enlarged during a previous visit. However, the plan for the day was to further explore the passage discovered by Yuval. This section of the cave is so impressive that the group spent a lot of time taking photos and making videos.

The new section explored by Kasia on Monday 1st June last extends for a long distance and it is filled with beautiful formations. It was a wonderful day today, and as was already mentioned before, this cave reveals something new on every visit by the CSG cavers.
The dedication, curiosity, and teamwork of all the members once again made the trip especially rewarding - every person brought something different to the exploration, and that's what makes these adventures so special

07/06/2026

Another cave exploration in Cork ended in success. More passages and chambers beautifully decorated by nature. All kinds of formations in an untouched condition. You have to experience it to truly understand the emotions that accompany exploration and taking your first steps into previously unknown territory.

05/06/2026

On the 1st June Bank Holiday six members of the CSG; Yuval, Kasia, Monika, Michael, Marleen and Aneta traveled to the Ballyfin Cave near Cloyne in county Cork in order to explore passages that they wished to see if they could be pushed and thus lead to new sections of the cave. The passage in question was discovered a few weeks earlier by Yuval.

The entrance to one particular passage is hidden beneath a huge boulder in Angry Badger Chamber and reaching it is quite challenging. The best way forward is to climb upward while almost lying flat on your stomach, feet first, and then to slide down through a tight crack. At first, everyone assessed the entrance and discussed the safest way through. Yuval, being the discoverer, was given the honour of being first to make his way through and guided the rest of the group from the inside, as the descent required careful positioning to avoid getting caught and ending up in the wrong direction.

Once through they were rewarded with a beautiful passage. After several dozen metres, a smaller side section branched off to the left, richly decorated with stunning formations. with great care so as not to damage the delicate stalactites and stalagmites it would be possible to continue even further. Straight ahead, the main passage reached a dead end with no possibility of extending further, but before that, turning right revealed a small passage that two members of the party managed to widen, they discovered several new leads beyond it.

Meanwhile, the remaining four cavers explored other parts of the cave before heading to see FTRH, which three of them had never seen before. A special word of thanks must go to Yuval for his patience, calm guidance and excellent leadership while helping the team safely navigate the challenging entrance to the new section. His support and steady direction made the exploration possible and enjoyable for everyone involved. The trip ended successfully, with plenty of smiles and excitement amongst the team. This cave is slowly revealing its many secrets with lots more to be discovered.

01/06/2026

Somewhere between light and silence...

27/05/2026

In a cave where a river once changed its course, what remains is a layered geological record. Floods and calmer flows deposit mud, sand, and small rock fragments, building layers that preserve the history of water movement and landscape change. Sometimes these sediments also contain pollen, plant material, or bones carried in by the river.

Then cavers go in.

And that record stops being just in the ground.

One tight passage is enough for fine mud and clay to stick everywhere — helmets, clothes, skin. The cave’s history literally starts transferring onto people as they move through it.

Afterwards comes the washing, scrubbing, and scraping, because some of that clay acts like it has a legal claim on your gear and isn’t planning to move out anytime soon.

So a deposit that has quietly recorded ancient environments for thousands of years ends up, briefly, recording the people who pass through it too.

24/05/2026

19/05/2026

We would like to sincerely thank to:
Cork Tyre Specialists https://www.facebook.com/share/1ETrXvRiuc/ for their generous support of our preparations for the Palawan Expedition 2027.

-New tyres
-Part worn tyres
-3D Wheel alignment
-Car service