

Gortgower Grotto


Kerry Map

OS Ref: V 388 773

Last Visited: 1998

From the Slate Quarry

From the Slate Quarry

Right. So thereʼs this hugh slate cavern on the side of the mountain above the tiny settlement of Gortgower on Valencia Island, part of which is still being worked.

High up above the entrance to the cavern there is a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From near this a small stream of water falls into a circular gold pool in the centre of which is what looks like a stork wearing a dinner jacket.

Well that all seems self-explanatory. The only question is, how did they get the statue up there? The answer, of, course, is a very long ladder.