Show Cave
Édouard-Alfred Martel first postulated that Marble Arch Cave would make a worthy show cave after initially exploring the system in 1895. However it was not until 1982 that work eventually began on creating a new underground tourist attraction. Development included:
- Building concrete and metal walkways with handrails throughout the show cave;
- Installation of electric lighting;
- A new tunnel between Pool Chamber and New Chamber, providing walking access to Skreen Hill passageways;
- An access shaft and staircase into Skreen Hill passage from one of the large surface dolines on the plateau;
- A short section of walled pathway dug into the floor of the cave, under a low ceiling—the "Moses Walk" is so-called because the river continues to run at shoulder level either side of the path;
- A visitor centre, car park and access road on the surface.
Covering a small section of the system, the Marble Arch Caves show cave was opened to the public on 29 May 1985. Visitors travel through the first part of the caves by boat on the subterranean Cladagh River, before walking through the rest of the chambers.
Between 1985 and 2008 the show cave attracted approximately 1 million visitors, from 100 countries worldwide. Annual visitor capacity (during the period that the cave is open, March–September) is 94,060.
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