caves antrim

The most famous cave is Bruce's Cave, below the east lighthouse at the other end of the Island. Robert the Bruce hid here in 1306 after his defeat by the English at Perth, and it was a Rathlin spider whose arachnoid energies gave the despondent warrior new heart and sent him back to Scotland to win the Battle of Bannockburn....

In the 18th century the elementary education of the masses in Ireland was mainly carried out in the hedge schools, so called because of the custom of holding classes in the open in fine weather. During bad weather a shed was generally provided and in Glenariff one of the caves near the pier provided shelter. It is marked by a memorial stone.

Another of the caves was occupied by an old woman, Nanny, who was the local poitin supplier....