One of the jewels in Fermanagh’s tourism crown will close for a number of months to facilitate improvement works.

The show cave at Marble Arch Caves will be closed temporarily from Monday, September 12 to early January 2023 to facilitate the installation of a new cave lighting system.

During the closure period, cave tours will be not available.

Dynamic lighting

The £400,000 works which include the installation of new dynamic lighting will aim to enhance the visitor experience of the unique caves system, showcasing the stunning subterranean world while sustainably protecting the natural environment.

Ian Davidson, Head of Service at Marble Arch Caves spoke to The Impartial Reporter about the upgrade and its implications.

He said: “We are upgrading the lighting in the cave. We looked at a phased approach, but the easiest way for us to approach the project was to bite the bullet.

“We timed the project to commence after the summer season for obvious reasons with it being our busiest season.

“It’s upgrading the wiring and replacing the lighting with LED lighting, and it is a more efficient and more environmentally sustainable form of lighting. It’s a very monitored environment and it is within a certain light spectrum and a certain luminous level.”

This is the first substitutable upgrading of the lighting since the show cave opened 1982

Adding that time has been factored in for any delays due to weather. He said: “The work is slow work in a very high risk environment for the contractors, it is an active cave and it floods, we have an allowance time.”

“It’s great to get the support from Tourism Northern Ireland who gave £200,000 toward the total upgrade. The total project will cost £400,000.”

The cave will be upping its above ground experiences, Ian and team believe there is a demand outside of the caves traditionally busy summer season, he said: “Last year we did a 12-month opening, traditionally we closed after Hallowe’en but always sensed there was a 12 month demand.

“We are upping the amount of above ground experiences and our core staff will be kept on either involved in managing the project or facilitating above ground projects”

Speaking about the the new cave lighting project Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Barry McElduff, said: “The new lighting will provide maximum aesthetic effects and enhance the show cave into the future in a sustainable, positive way and ensure the safety of visitors. The support provided by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, alongside other funding investment, will significantly improve the cave tour and allow visitors to experience the underground world like an explorer.”

While the underground cave tours may not be available, there is still a range of over ground events for visitors to enjoy at Marble Arch Caves including family favourites, ‘The Land of Fairies’ and ‘Wildlife Detectives’, the virtual reality cave explorer experience plus Hallowe’en and Christmas events. Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre and car park will remain open.