Aghnaha-Corelea Mountains, Leitrim, 13 August 2022

Team: Eoghan, Jock, Rob

Time: 9 hours

Aim: Prospect northwest of Ramson’s; survey Pollacaintrie Cave 2

Taking advantage of the hot dry weather, for which none of our party had an affinity for, we met at Foley’s Falls, at a considerable hour beyond our meeting time. I would complain regarding time keeping except for my historical record on such matters, as noted elsewhere in these records.

Jock and myself drove up that bright green boreen, reaching the top easily thanks to the dryness under-wheel. We set off, GPS’ing a reasonable number of dolines, blind pots and potential digs (which will never be dug). Along the 230m contour line we encountered a number of small but well developed caves, one of them taking a sinking stream, like a mini-Pollnatagha. There is a very possible and impressive medieval enclosure-settlement on this plain, near the exposed limestone pavement. We headed north, meeting a number of turf cutters who were taking a break from their work. The eldest, a man in his 60s knew many stories about the local caves, which I wrote-down. We met him later that day and, as it turned out, he was a former landlord of mine in a past life, several decades beyant. He noted how Ramson’s was not a local name at all and I jumped when he was about to pronounce, with pride, the local name – ‘Pollnagollum’!

We took our leave and headed southwest, looking into Sulphur Pot and Sheepfold. Two very fine caves joined as a through trip. I noted one bolt in the roof of the latter, just where it drops into Sulphur Pot, very rusted and of no use. However I would be curious as to who put it there, albeit CUCC was on these hills in 1976. We did our caving almost American Style i.e. in t-shirts and light trousers (no we didn’t do it in shorts, but also didn’t bother with knee pads – bad idea). Seemed like a great idea but I noted, upon exiting, the blood rolling down Jock’s back. I was equally impressed the next day with my own cuts and scratches which made it look like I’d survived a fight with a (small) bear.

Upon exiting, we then saw a tall gangly and sombre figure crossing the desolate moor, heading for us. When Eoghan arrived he went in on his todd for a gander about. Happy with our endeavours, the three gay lads soon headed northwest, tagging Pollahorta and a number of other minor potential sites. We reached a gorge which has significant speleological development and might be Tratman’s ‘Colleen Pot’, but we then headed on for Pollacaintrie, a series of three connected ‘bits of cave’, and also a very interesting name. I have to say this cave, along with Sulphur Pot left me very impressed with the extent of cave development here and, like everywhere else in the Breifne region, just how fuckin’ gorgeous and special it all is.

P’caint. has three related segments, a sink, an upper level of abandoned passage and a rising. All are pretty impressive especially the (very easy) canyoning-like entrance to the sink.

Our interest was largely to have a goose at the middle cave, the abandoned upper passage which was recorded by Tratman as being an old IRA (1918-1920s) hideout prepared for use, but never used. This was likely organised by the 4th Battalion of the 1^st Sligo Brigade. A reason why it may not have been used is explained by the fact that events would lead to these combatants ending up taking refuge, as part of the 1st Brigade, in Tormore Cave in Sligo. Evidence of their work is visible as a small area in the cave in which a 1.2 meter dry stone wall was constructed to retain collapse material, and to allow for the clearing of a broad and level space. Sadly the cave has suffered recent and significant dumping of domestic and farm refuse. We surveyed the cave and left, noting its fine gallery of Herald moths who had also sought refuge in this cave, but rather suffered a massacred by the Cordyceps fungus.

It was getting late and by this stage Jock had headed for the (bits of Leitrim that isn’t) hills. I was tidying up the survey and then went to look for Eoghan, who had disappeared into the sink. He was sensibly suited up; I was in fully saturated hillwalking clothes and I could not find him. Turns out he found a direct connection between Pollacaintrie 1 and 3. His big happy head appearing out of the cliff face of the massive doline of P’caintrie 3, where previously Tratman had only suggested a possible connection.

Thus spoke Eoghan:

“What a pleasantly uncomfortable cave that just kept giving. An awkward crawl to a black slimy climb down in dubious cherty limestone. Then through a series of rolling ball chambers down to flat crawl with a watery wine bottom. I built cairns to mark my passing should I not pass thru here again. Then I crawled back under my previous watery winey way to come out with the spiders and a hasty careful turn left to the sun only 6 meters away and the imagined big happy hippy head halfway up a hill edge. I turned for home swinging my derrière out to space and head into the dark again.”

He called out my name, but I heard him not, and like a tree falling in the forest when no one was there to observe it, I doubted his find. However, I was likely just envious and indeed the length of passage is very much likely virgin. So, here’s to further finds in the Papau New Guinea of North Leitrim.

Over and out ‘gus tiocfaidh ár grá…

-Rob.