J. C. Coleman

John Cristopher "Jack" Coleman (1914–1971) was a respected Irish geographer, archaeologist, speleologist and mountaineer. He devoted much of his life to the study of the caves of Ireland, the product of which were his many contributions to scientific journals in Ireland and the United Kingdom, his founding of the Speleological Society of Ireland and the publishing of his book, The Caves of Ireland.

Through his extensive exploration of Irish caves and nationally and internationally published articles, Coleman played an instrumental role in advancing the study of speleology in Ireland during the mid-to-late 20th century. He is called the "father of Irish caving" due to his life's work. having trained as a geographer at Cork University.

He began caving in 1932, initially exploring caves within cycling distance of his home in Cork City such as Carrigtwohill Caves and Ovens Caves (where he found weapons left over from the Civil War).

In 1940 Coleman met Portlaoise textile chemist N. J. Dunnington, who joined him in explorations of caves in South Cork. In July 1941 the pair cycled heavily laden bicycles to County Clare to investigate Pollnagollum, which received widespread praise from the scientific community and attracted a new wave of speleologists to the Burren. Coleman would later cite the relationship that he built with the society over the following years to be a major stimulus in continuing his work on Irish caves, and ultimately in completing his book on the subject. By the 1960s he had been made Honorary Life Member of the UBSS. and the Cong region, which would pave the way for further discoveries by local and visiting speleologists.

In 1964 Coleman founded the Speleological Society of Ireland, the first representative body for cavers in Ireland. He was also the first editor of the Society's journal Irish Speleology. Coleman published his work widely in a number of publications. His articles included work on Dunmore Cave, Carrigtwohill Caves and Pollnagollum, but it was not until 1965 that his seminal work, The Caves of Ireland, was published. Originally written by Coleman as his MA thesis at Cork University,

Coleman was killed in a car accident on 20 April 1971, at the age of 57. He was survived by his wife, son and three daughters.

List of publications

Books

Articles