SUICRO 2014
SUICRO this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Speleological Union of Ireland.
2014 also marks 100 years since the birth of Jack Coleman, one of Ireland’s most beloved and prolific explorers.
It is also the 30th caving symposium!
In celebration of the above milestones, this year will see the inauguration of the Jack Coleman award, presented to the most outstanding talk at SUICRO
Location
The Symposium will this year be held in Kilcoran Lodge Hotel, a new venue on the border between Cork and Tipperary. It is in the heart of a relatively little visited caving region.
Kilcoran Lodge is situated 2 kilometres from Cahir historical town, and easily accessible from the Dublin/Cork motorway, (M8, Exit 11)
Estimated drive time – 2 hrs from Dublin and Clare, 3.5 hours from Belfast and Fermanagh.
Rope Race
Due to unpopular demand, Irelands Fastest Rope Climber Competition is being scaled back.
The race now to be held on site at Kilcoran, Sunday daytime after the Open Forum. In a bid to drum up some last minute enthusiasm, the SUI have kindly offered put up an €100 prize!
Please note that entry must be booked prior to the weekend and will cost €5.00 – If you are interested or want more information, please contact Tim or Artur via SUICRO2014@caving.ie as soon as possible. There must be a minimum of 6 persons for the event to run!
Caving Activities and Workshops
Caves Locally
Information such as driving directions, access/parking issues and surveys will be available at the SUI stand in the hotel.
Landowners of the following nearby Tipperary and Cork caves have been contacted:
- Mammoth Cave (*Try Caving Event Saturday – Limited parking)
- Old Desmond Cave (*Photography Workshop Saturday)
- Poll Skeehanarinky (Small group sizes recommended, please alert organisers via SUICRO2014@caving.ie if you intend to visit – please note that SUI membership (or at least BCA Public Liability cover) is required for insurance purposes)
- Moorepark Cave (15 kilometre drive)
- Ovens Cave (50 kilometre drive)
And of course, Mitchelstown show cave is 3 kilometres away, well signposted, and open daily 10:00 – 4:30. (Adults €9, Children €3, Families €20.00)
Workshops
Cave Sniper
Surveying Demonstration, Discussion and Workshop
A new system of digital surveying, used extensively in
Poland and across Europe – bring your surveying equipment. This workshop may be held in the hotel.
Cave Photography Workshop 1
Pinhole Photography
Eszter Kaloczkai will host a photography workshop with a difference on Saturday in Mitchelstown show cave.
This experimental workshop will utilise pinhole photography to capture images the cave onto instant film, without use of lenses!
A unique opportunity, limited to 6 persons max; meeting at 3:30pm in hotel lobby.
Cave Photography Workshop 2
Cave Photographer Axel Hack will host a workshop on photography techniques and equipment in the hotel.
ICRO & SUI AGM’s, Open Forum
The SUI and ICRO AGM’s will be held on Saturday and Sunday respectively, at 10:30 am. Tea and Coffee served afterwards.
The Open Forum will be held after the ICRO AGM on Sunday, and is an opportunity to raise questions on all things cave related.
Prizes
The SUI Literary Award; Prize for best piece of Irish cave literature since the last SUICRO.
The Jack Coleman Award, presented to the most outstanding talk at SUICRO, as judged by the key note speakers.
Caving Shops
Starless River, Above the Ground and Peli Ireland will have caving equipment stalls in the hotel for the duration of the Symposium.
If you are looking for something specific, best to contact them in advance to avoid disappointment!
Accommodation
Hotel rooms within Kilcoran Lodge are still available. €250 B&B for double room.
Self catering houses are still available: 3 x 3 bedroom houses. (2 rooms double, 1 twin. All ensuite) – €441
3 x 2 bedroom houses. (Both rooms ensuite, double beds) – €321
All houses have ample additional space for sleeping bags/couches etc.
For self catering, contact Cath and quote SUICRO on 087742 6385 kilcoranholhomes@gmail.com
Accommodation offsite
Kings Yard Campsite– (8 Kilometres from hotel) http://kingsyard.wordpress.com/contact-us/
A list of nearby Bed & Breakfasts/Self catering in Kilcoran, Kilbehenny, Mitchelstown and Cahir are available from Tim.
Speakers & Talks
Talks are the highlight of the SUICRO. From 7:00 pm SHARP and feature a range of speakers, both Irish and International, covering caving topics and discoveries old and new.
Key note speakers include:
Björn Hróarsson, Icelandic geologist, author of Hellahandbókin, (The Icelandic Caving Guide) and discoverer of many, many Icelandic lava caves.
Matthew Parkes, SUI Librarian, and Dr Marion Dowd will be talking on the life of Jack Coleman
A range of Polish Cavers, on Papua New Guinea, Slovakia and Romania
With new cave discoveries in the Burren and Largy this year, and a number of Irish expeditions overseas, we’re looking forward to hearing what our community has been up to
Caving Omnibus Fringe In addition to the talks, there will be an additional showing of every.caving.movie.ever…
From stolid BBC documentary to squalid B-movies, from quality Irish made fare to the best and worst of international mainstream movies.
Organised Daytime Activities
D’Hillbillies Mud Run – 6k/12k
The Organisers of D’Hillbillies Mud Run, which runs on 1st November close to Kilcoran, are looking for testers on their route…and thought of us!
There are both 6 and 12 kilometre options on the Saturday daytime, bring your runners and a change of clothes, this should be great fun (and very muddy!) – contact Tim for further information, see the SUI stall on Friday 24th October, or see the below; http://www.runireland.com/events/dhillbillies-mud-run
Brewery tour
8 Degrees Beer have kindly offered free tours of their craft brewery, which is a short drive from Mitchelstown. Numbers are limited, and the tour takes 40 minutes. Saturday daytime; contact Tim for further information, or see the SUI stall on Friday 24th October.
Additional Daytime Activities
- Gorge Walk the Glengarra river
- Ballyhoura Mountain Biking trails
- Cahir Castle and historical town
- Galtee Mór Climb: Multiple routes up one of Ireland’s highest peaks 3-7 hours hiking time dependant on route.
- Glengarra woods walk / Kings Yard Walks
The hotel has been block booked for the weekend. There are affordable self catering lodges available on-site, also block-booked.
The final line up of talks, competitions and events will be widely circulated at the symposium.
Please contact the providers directly to book accommodation, quoting SUICRO 2014:
+353 (0)52 7441288 or www.kilcoranlodge.net for hotel accommodation,
+353 85 755 5220 for onsite self catering. Or contact SUICRO2014@caving.ie for details!
For any questions at all email SUICRO2014@caving.ie
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