Caves

In an area of scrub in damp pasture on the steeply sloping E bank of the Knocknaskeagh River. The 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map indicates ‘Caves’ within a hachured enclosure (CL015-008003-); the 1916 ed. OS 6-inch map again indicates ‘Caves’ but the associated enclosure is not depicted. A twin-chambered Man-made underground passage comprising a rectangular chamber (4.76m x 1.87m NW-SE; H 1.85m) with a circular chamber to its NE (diam. 2.75m) joined by an intervening creep (1.8m x 0.87m NE-SW; H 0.59m). The partially collapsed NW end of the rectangular chamber formed the original entrance facing the riverbank. The walls are partially rock-cut and are partially drystone-built. The roof of the rectangular chamber is composed of two large lintels. The circular chamber had a corbelled beehive-style roof. A breach in the N side wall of the circular chamber provides access. A densely overgrown depression (L 8m; Wth 4m; D 2m) immediately S of these chambers may be the remains of a third collapsed chamber. An enclosure (CL015-008001-) is located c. 20m to the W, on the W bank of the Knocknaskeagh River. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 13 September 2022