Oweynagat Cave: Braving Ireland’s "Gate to Hell"

If you ask a tourist where the scariest place in Ireland is, they might say a dusty castle or a foggy graveyard. But if you ask a historian or a folklorist, they will point to a nondescript field in County Roscommon.

There, hidden beneath a patch of scrubby grass, lies Oweynagat (The Cave of the Cats).

This is not a "show cave" like Aillwee or Marble Arch. There are no electric lights, no concrete walkways, and no gift shops. It is a narrow, muddy, natural fissure that the ancient Irish believed was the literal Entrance to the Otherworld (Tír na nÓg). Christian monks later terrified the population by renaming it the "Gate to Hell."

"I have been caving for years, but Oweynagat is different. When you crawl through that lintel and the light disappears, you feel a heaviness that is hard to explain. You are in the belly of the earth." — Dr. E. Kelly, Archaeologist

In this guide, we will tell you how to visit this portal to the underworld. But be warned: this is an adventure that requires mud boots, a strong flashlight, and nerves of steel.

(This guide is part of our master Hub Haunted Places in Ireland: The Ultimate Guide to Ghost Tours & Castles. If you survive the cave, you might want to recover in one of our Haunted Castle Hotels).

1. The Legend: Home of the Morrigan

Oweynagat is the legendary home of The Morrigan, the terrifying Celtic goddess of war, fate, and death. She famously appears as a crow or raven on the battlefield to claim the souls of the dead.

According to the ancient texts, this cave is a "thin place" where creatures from the Otherworld can cross into ours.

• The Ellén Trechend: A three-headed monster that emerged from the cave to ravage the country.
• The Wild Cats: The cave is named "Cave of the Cats" after magical wildcats that emerged to attack the legendary warrior Cú Chulainn.
• Samhain Connection: This area (Rathcroghan) is deeply linked to the origins of Halloween. It was believed that on Samhain night (October 31st), the veil lifted, and the Morrigan would lead a host of spirits out of this very cave.

2. The Descent: What It’s Actually Like

Visiting Oweynagat is not a passive experience. It is a physical challenge.

The Entrance: The entrance is an unremarkable hole under a tree, marked by an Ogham stone (an ancient gravestone). To enter, you must get on your hands and knees.

The Souterrain: The first section is a man-made "souterrain" (underground passage) built in the medieval period. It is tight, claustrophobic, and often wet. You have to crawl.

The Rift: Suddenly, the souterrain ends, and you drop down into the natural limestone rift cavern.

• The Atmosphere: It is pitch black. The silence is absolute. The floor is thick, sticky mud that threatens to pull your boots off.
• The Experience: Visitors often report seeing flashes of light or hearing whispers in the darkness. Whether this is the Morrigan or sensory deprivation is up to you to decide.

3. The Logistics: Why You Need a Guide

Do NOT attempt to visit Oweynagat alone. This is a rural site located on private farmland. There are no signposts, and if you slip and break an ankle inside, there is no cell phone signal to call for help.

The Rathcroghan Visitor Centre: Your first stop must be the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in the nearby village of Tulsk.

• The Tour: They offer guided tours where an archaeologist takes you to the site. They provide the context, the permission from the farmer, and crucially, the safety oversight.
• The Gear: You need wellies (rubber boots), waterproof trousers, and a headtorch. Do not wear your nice sneakers; they will be ruined.

The Private Driver Advantage: Tulsk is located in the "Hidden Heartlands," far from the main tourist motorways.

• Finding It: The cave is literally in a field. GPS often directs cars to the wrong farm gate. A local Private Driver knows exactly where to park.
• The Clean Up: After crawling through mud, you will be dirty. A driver can have fresh towels and a change of shoes waiting for you in the trunk, so you don't wreck your rental car upholstery.
• The Decompression: After such an intense experience, you won't want to drive. You will want to sit back and process what you just saw while someone else navigates the narrow lanes.

4. Nearby Ancient Sites (Rathcroghan Complex)

Oweynagat is just one part of the Rathcroghan Royal Complex, the ancient capital of Connacht and the seat of Queen Medb (Maeve).

• Rathcroghan Mound: A massive ritual mound where the kings of Connacht were inaugurated.
• Dathí’s Stone: The standing stone marking the grave of the last pagan king of Ireland.

A Historical Walking Guide can weave these sites together, explaining how the "Gate to Hell" fits into the wider landscape of kingship and ritual.

5. When to Go (The Spooky Season)

While the cave is accessible year-round (weather permitting), the atmosphere changes in late October.

• Halloween Tours: The Visitor Centre often runs special "Origins of Samhain" tours in late October. These are incredibly popular and sell out months in advance.
• Winter Warning: In winter, the water table rises, and the cave can flood. Always check with the Visitor Centre before driving out.

Conclusion: A Journey to the Underworld

Oweynagat is not for everyone. If you are claustrophobic or afraid of the dark, skip it. But if you want to touch the raw, primal roots of Irish mythology—if you want to stand in the darkness where the Morrigan was born—then this is the most powerful site in Ireland.

Just make sure you have someone waiting for you on the surface.

Plan Your Expedition

Don't get lost in the Otherworld. Hire a driver to get you to Tulsk and a guide to get you into the cave.

Find a Private Driver for Roscommon →