The Smuggling Caves of Portrane In years gone by in Ireland, there had to be taxed paid on certain goods as tobacco and wine coming from foreign lands to Ireland. But the people who were poor at the time they could not afford to be paying tax on these goods. They often decided to smuggle in these goods in the caves around the coast of Ireland . Along the coast of Portrane it is very rocky and there are many fine caves which were used frequently for smuggling. These caves are long and the tide goes up the full lenght and any small canoes could go these caves. In the dark of night the smugglers would go out in their small boats and meet the big ships out in the sea and get tobacco, wines, spirits and many other goods. The small boats would come in and sail up the caves with the goods and at the end of the caves thhere was a large hole going down into the cave from the top.Margaret Godwin