The Speleological Union of Ireland (SUI) is the official representative body of

cavers Caving – also known as spelunking in the United States and Canada and potholing in the United Kingdom and Ireland – is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems (as distinguished from show caves). In contrast, speleology is ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

, both in the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern ...

and in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

. It is affiliated with the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation.

History

The SUI was founded as the Speleological Society of Ireland in 1964 to promote

speleology Speleology is the scientific study of caves and other karst features, as well as their make-up, structure, physical properties, history, life forms, and the processes by which they form ( speleogenesis) and change over time (speleomorphology) ...

(the scientific study of caves) in Ireland. Jack Coleman was the first president. The society was reconstituted in 1983 as the Speleological Union of Ireland. In 2002 the SUI was set up as a

limited company In a limited company, the liability of members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. In a company limited by shares, the lia ...

Functions

The SUI provides training for cave leaders and new cavers and represents cavers' interests in disputes with landowners. It also works to protect Irish caves from damage by human influence, including dumping, quarrying, development, and promotes a strong

conservation Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws. Conservation may also refer to: Environment and natural resources * Nature conservation, the protection and managem ...

ethic to cavers. The organisation promotes awareness of caves and safe caving, providing information for beginners wishing to try caving. The SUI publishes a scientific journal, ''Irish Speleology'', and grant aid is often provided by the organisation for international caving expeditions. In August 2012 the Kozłowski Fund was additionally set up to support cave exploration within Ireland, in memory of prolific

cave diver Cave-diving is underwater diving in water-filled caves. It may be done as an extreme sport, a way of exploring flooded caves for scientific investigation, or for the search for and recovery of divers or, as in the 2018 Thai cave rescue, other ...

and explorer Artur Kozłowski. The SUI, in conjunction with the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation, organises an annual symposium for Irish cavers, named SUICRO. It has been held every year since 1985, except for 2020, in compliance with restrictions in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

''Irish Speleology''

''Irish Speleology'' is the official caving journal published by the SUI. It is the longest-running caving journal in Ireland, and was first published in September 1965 as the ''Journal of the Speleological Society of Ireland''. Volumes 1 to 4 were published as multiple issues, however following volume 4 issue 2, the next release was volume 13, and numbering has been sequential since. Volume 23 of the journal, subtitled "Selected accounts of Irish caves 1680–1893" and published in October 2017, was nominated for the Tratman award: a literary award issued annually by the Ghar Parau Foundation, subsequently managed by the British Cave Research Association.

''Underground''

The SUI produces a newsletter for members, named ''Underground'', published up to four times per year. It provides up-to-date information on new discoveries, caving events, activities, rescue and safety, equipment and techniques in Irish caving.

References

External links

* (Speleological Union of Ireland & Irish Cave Rescue Organisation) Caving organizations 1964 establishments in Ireland Organizations established in 1964 Caving in Ireland Clubs and societies in Ireland

Speleology Speleology is the scientific study of caves and other karst features, as well as their make-up, structure, physical properties, history, life forms, and the processes by which they form ( speleogenesis) and change over time (speleomorphology) ...

{{caving-stub