Oweynagat Cave (Cave of the Cats)

Rathcroghan Visitor Centre is located in the medieval village of Tulsk, within the royal complex of Cruachan, the oldest and largest unexcavated Royal Complex in Europe. Here there is a wealth of Mythology, Archaeology, History and Literature just waiting for you to discover.

Rathcroghan Royal Site has been nominated to the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status, which would elevate it to its rightful place of importance alongside Newgrange, and Skellig Michael. 


Oweynagat Cave (Cave of the Cats)
The underground feature traditionally called Oweynagat (“Cave of the Cats”) is actually a natural limestone fissure in the earth, with a (perhaps medieval) souterrain serving as its low, barely noticeable entrance.  An 1886 text credits the feline connection with the fact that wild cats would hunt the rabbits living inside. In the 10th-century tale “Bricriu’s Feast,” however, three heroes of Ireland are tested in the cave by monstrous cats.


“One night as their portion was assigned to them, three cats from the cave of Crúachan were let loose to attack them, that is, three beasts of magic. Conall and Loegaire made for the rafters, leaving their food with the beasts. In that wise they slept until the morrow. Cúchulainn fled not from the beast which was attacking him. When it stretched its neck out for eating, Cúchulainn gave a blow with a sword on the beast’s head, but the blade glided off as it were from stone.” 

18Waddell, John. "Rathcroghan - A Royal Site in Connacht." The Journal of Irish Archaeology 1 (1983): 21.