Post date: Nov 9, 2009 11:11:57 PM

The Shannon Cave Group has mainly been associated with the digging, exploration and surveying in Shannon Cave. Recently, we've had a couple of major discoveries that have come after years of hard work. Word has got around that we are an active club that are keen for caving and exploration in the northwest of Ireland. As a result we've been contacted by a number of resident and visiting cavers asking to be shown the highlights (and lowlights) of caving in counties Fermanagh and Cavan. This note is a summary of a trip lead by the Shannon Cave Group. Hopefully, there will be more trips to follow. Ultimately, we'd really like to swell the ranks of cavers in the club (we'll always need more diggers).

This trip was lead by Les, Ian and Al on Saturday the 31^st October into Pollnagollum of the Boats. The trip turned out to be a real international affair, with six cavers attending including a mix of Irish, Northern Irish, English, Alaskan and Slovak! As usual the weekend began on Friday night in Frank Eddie's Bar. Aileen Connor, Jim Nicholls, Les Brown and Pavel Cesnak met up for a few jars and cave talk. There was much discussion on US, Irish and Slovak SRT techniques. On the Saturday morning Jim, Les and Pavel went for breakfast in Bloodstone's and met up with Al Kennedy and Laura Nolan who arrived up from Dublin having had a particularly early start. Ian Wilton Jones turned up a short while later after having a slight run-in with a rock on the Aghnahoo lane.

Over breakfast the good weather of the previous 18hrs broke and the monsoons of the past week returned. There were fears that, if the rain continued, water levels in Pollnagollum OTB would become too high. However, just as soon as the monsoon arrived it was gone. Renewed with enthusiasm we headed up the Marlbank, parked up at McNulty's lane and kitted up with wet suits and dry suits ready for some caving.

Pollnagollum OTB is one of the main feeders of the Marble Arch system and carries the Owenbrean River. The rain of the previous week probably exceeded the caves capacity so we were expecting to see significant amounts of flood debris throughout the cave. Although Pollnagollum probably was flooded the previous week we'd had 18hrs of good weather, which would be adequate for the system to drain and water levels to become manageable for safe access. Bearing this warning in mind everyone was told to keep their eyes open for any evidence of rising waters.

Navigating our way through the boulder choke we could hear an ominous low rumble of water from the stream way below but on reaching the lake we saw that the water levels were only slightly above normal. All six cavers made their way across Lake 1, which was as chilly as normal! On the far side the rope tie up was above the water level. However, the flood foam c. 2.5m above our heads showed that the water levels of the previous week had been substantial! Everyone made it across Lake 1 with ease. Five of us had wetsuits and Jim was in a dry suit that gave him huge buoyancy. Pollnagollum OTB is one of Fermanagh's most sporting caves, requiring lakes to be swum, boulders to be climbed and for those keen enough a short sump to be dived. Jim had a camera with him and took a few photos on the way. These photos tell most of the story!

Seeing that the cave water levels were remaining stable we passed across lakes 2 and 3 leaving water level markers en route. At the sump, water levels were only slightly higher than normal. Al and Laura free-dived through the short sump and met the others on the other side who took the bypass. From the sump we climbed the exposed boulders into the higher stream way and then across Lake 4 right to the back end of the cave. The water level in Lake 4 was c.0.5m higher than normal and quite fast flowing. Al, Laura and Pavel headed off to the ducks at to the end of the cave. The high water levels meant that the cave sumped off a few metres earlier than usual. The end of Pollnagollum OTB lies beneath Glass Rock Hollow on the surface, which lies c.150m the end of Pollasumera, the sink for the Owenbrean River.

With the sight of Lake 4 in high flow a decision was made to start our return journey. On route out of the cave Al, Laura and Ian all free-dived the sump. At each of the lakes the markers left behind showed that the water level had remained the same. A quick exit was made from the cave to some glorious sunshine on the surface.

After Pollnagollum OTB we took a short trip into Pollasumera to see the main sink of the Owenbrean. Water levels were slightly high but the flood debris in the roof and the swirling whirlpool in the flooded passage caused us to make our stay brief. A subsequent trip to White Fathers was nearly as short after seeing the torrent of water entering and exiting the cave.

There will be more trips! Folk just need to ask for them.

Les