The Birthplace of Shadow and Flame

Carved from 400-million-year-old red sandstone by Ice Age waters, Cushendun Caves stand as one of Northern Ireland's most mystical coastal formations and the setting for Game of Thrones' most haunting supernatural scene. These ancient Devonian conglomerate caverns, embedded with countless rounded stones from prehistoric desert floods, gained worldwide recognition as the birthplace of Melisandre's shadow assassin in Season 2.

Located on County Antrim's dramatic Causeway Coast, the caves provided the perfect atmospheric backdrop for the Stormlands, where Ser Davos secretly rowed the Red Priestess through treacherous waters for her dark ritual. The distinctive red-orange cave walls, illuminated by torchlight in the series, created an otherworldly setting for one of television's most memorable supernatural births.

The shadow baby scene in "Garden of Bones" transformed these geological wonders into a pivotal plot location, where ancient stone witnessed the creation of supernatural forces that would alter the War of the Five Kings. The small beach within the cave system, accessible only by boat in the series, became the launch point for magical assassination and political intrigue.

Beyond their screen fame, these 13,000-year-old formations represent millions of years of geological history, where rising seas carved dramatic chambers into prehistoric rock, creating natural cathedrals that have sheltered both ancient peoples and modern film crews seeking locations worthy of Westeros' most mystical moments.

This specific cave area encompasses The main cave entrance area where Davos and Melisandre first entered from their rowboat, featuring the dramatic sandstone archway opening to the sea.