Reyfad Caves
The Reyfad Caves are a cave system which worms its way through the rock beneath the high plateau of Reyfad, a townland in Fermanagh.
The caves and entrances include:
- Little Reyfad
- Pollnacrom
- Polltullybrack
- Reyfad Pot
Each has been designated a 'provisional Area of Special Scientific Interest'.
Little Reyfad
Little Reyfad (H096465) is a sinkhole through rocks which consist of Dartry limestone, Knockmore limestone and chert.
Little Reyfad is at the base of a shakehole. A series of descents (23 feet) leads to a floor of broken chert, followed by a further 10-foot difficult descent to another base, which is blocked with a rock and gravel.[1]
Reyfad Pot
Reyfad Pot (H08894687) is a hole through rocks which comprise Carn and Dartry limestones with some Glenade sandstone. Breccia, chert, calcite and gypsum deposits can also be found.[2]
This cave is noted by the Environment Agency as being the most important underground karst site in Northern Ireland.[3] At 633 feet deep and 4.2 miles long, it is the deepest cave system in Ireland,[4] the 25th longest in the United Kingdom but the second-longest in Northern Ireland.[5]
This is a very active cave with many calcite formations and fossiliferous limestone, which includes evidence of Brachiopods and Crinoids. The extended area is hypothesised to have formed from the last glacial period (Pleistocene).[2][6]
Access is by permission of landowner only.[7]
Pollnacrom
Pollnacrom (H08534702) is through rocks composed of Dartry and Knockmore limestones with chert and gypsum.
This cave is part of the main Reyfad system that links to the 'Heaven and Hell' passage. It has a small, wet entrance. The cave contains two shafts at 165 feet and 50 feet respectively, which permit entry to the main stream passage which trends in a north-west direction for a hundred yards before turning south. The cave has been explored for 650 yards to an impassable sump. An attempt to force through this route in 1981 led to the death of a diver.[8]
Access is by permission of landowner only.[7]
Polltullybrack
Polltullybrack (H09214672) forms a second major entrance to the Reyfad system. Its rocks are composed of Dartry and Knockmore limestones with chert and calcite formations. The name of this cave is from the Gaelic Poll Tulaigh Breac, meaning 'Hole of the speckled hillside'
There is a very tight entrance to this cave through a sinkhole in what is known as a dry valley, but this eventually expands into a wider cave. The continuation of the passage contains many boulders and a deep pool, followed by 270 yards of difficult passage which ends in a submerged section, through which cavers have to duck. A short distance beyond this there is a shaft of 58 yards, which is the longest-known pitch of any Irish cave.
The cave joins up with the Reyfad system just north of the main chamber. Just before this are chambers known as the 'Grottoes', which contain fine examples of calcite features including stalactites, helictites and cave curtains.[9]
Access is by permission of landowner only.[7]
References
- ↑ "Reyfad–Carrickbeg; Little Reyfad – Summary". Earth Science Conservation Review. National Museums Northern Ireland. http://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/summary.asp?item=396. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Reyfad–Carrickbeg; Reyfad Pot – Summary". Earth Science Conservation Review. National Museums Northern Ireland. http://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/summary.asp?item=391. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
- ↑ The Knockmore Scarpland Geodiversity Profile (archived) Northern Ireland Environment Agency
- ↑ "All regions – Deepest caves". UK Caves. http://www.ukcaves.co.uk/all-deepest. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ↑ Longest caves in: the United Kingdon; and Northern Ireland: UK Caves
- ↑ "Belmore, Ballintempo & Tullybrack Uplands; Reyfad–Carrickbeg". Earth Science Conservation Review. National Museums Northern Ireland. http://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.asp?item=1160. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Restricted Access". Speleological Union of Ireland. http://caving.ie/access/. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ↑ "Reyfad–Carrickbeg; Pollnacrom – Summary". Earth Science Conservation Review. National Museums Northern Ireland. http://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/summary.asp?item=392. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
- ↑ "Reyfad–Carrickbeg; Polltullybrack – Summary". Earth Science Conservation Review. National Museums Northern Ireland. http://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/summary.asp?item=393. Retrieved 10 October 2009.