Kesh Caves — Cloonagh (corran By.),cross

The Kesh Caves penetrate a limestone cliff (H 15-30m) which bisects the western slope of Kesh Corann Hill. This vertical cliff-face is 90m from the base of the hill. Prominently positioned, the caves are visible from a distance and in turn command expansive and panoramic views over south Sligo, east Mayo and Roscommon. The caves comprise sixteen simple chambers and fissures, some interconnecting. All are aligned E-W with the entrances orientated to the W. The caves are identified by the letters A to P, from North to South. Cave P was named Plunkett Cave in honour of Thomas Plunkett and Cave J was named Coffey Cave in honour of George Coffey, both of whom were involved in the first excavations at Kesh (Scharff, Coffey, Cole, Ussher and Praeger 1903, 175). In 1901, Caves J and P were excavated and trial trenches were dug in Caves D, E and F (ibid., 171-214); Cave L was investigated in 1929 (Gwynn, Riley and Stelfox 1940, 81-95) and in 1929 and 1930 excavations were conducted in Cave L (Bayley Butler 1930). Five of the caves (J, L, N, O and P) have produced archaeological material. Cave J (Coffey Cave): A short narrow passage (L 5.5m) decreasing in width from 2.1m at the entrance to 0.3m at the rear. A narrow intersecting passage connects this fissure to Cave H to the north and Cave K to the south. Three strata were encountered in this cave. Archaeological material was recovered from the uppermost stratum at the cave entrance where there was a concentration of animal bones and large quantities of charcoal. Artifacts discovered include a medieval armour-piercing projectile head, a whetstone, an early medieval bone comb fragment, two bone needles and two bone pin fragments (Scharff et al., 1903; Dowd 2004, 482). A human tooth from the cave was radiocarbon dated to the Iron Age (Dowd 2004, 215). Cave L: Charcoal, animal bone and an iron nail were discovered in Cave L (Gwynn et al., 1940). Cave N: Charcoal, a hearth and faunal remains (Bayley Butler 1930), including bones of Arctic Lemming of Late Glacial date, were recovered from Cave N (Woodman, McCarthy and Monaghan 1997, 140). In 1971 visitors to the caves discovered a left calceneum, possibly from an adult male, which they removed from a small pile of bones. The find-spot was recorded as being c.150 yards from the entrance to Cave O. (Cahill and Sikora 2011, Vol. 2, 512). Cave P (Plunkett Cave): A long narrow passage (L 15.2m; Wth 1.8-3m) at the E end of which another passage (Sloping Chamber) extends S for at least 11m. A third passage (Water-Gallery) extends E from the Sloping Chamber for 6m. Two strata were recorded in Cave P. Archaeological material was recovered primarily from the uppermost stratum at the cave entrance. Significant quantities of charcoal, mussel shells and animal bone were concentrated at this point. Artifacts discovered include a polished stone axe, an iron bow-saw, two bronze ringed pins and an iron bar (Scharff et al., 1903). Four human teeth and a humerus fragment were also found; one tooth was radiocarbon dated to the early medieval period (Dowd 2004, 215). Faunal remains of Late Glacial date recovered from Cave P include brown bear, red deer, hare and wolf in addition to a horse bone dated to the early medieval period (Woodman et al., 1997, 140). A local legend, recorded in 1836, told that the mother of Cormac Mac Airt gave birth to Cormac while collecting water at Tober Cormac (SL039-032----) to the NW, but while she was asleep the baby was taken by a wolf to a cave at Kesh; some years later Cormac was returned to his mother (OSL, 161). This legend probably refers to Cave P, named 'Owey Cormac Mac Art' on the 1838 OS 6-inch map. (Kielty 2001, 1-11) In 1972 human remains were uncovered by visitors to the caves and reported to the NMI, but the find-spot was not recorded. These remains were to be sent to the NMI but this does not appear to have happened (Cahill and Sikora 2011, ibid.) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005) with additional information from M. Cahill and M. Sikora 2111 Breaking Ground, Finding Graves - reports on the excavations of burials by the National Museum of Ireland, 1927-2006. Vol. 2, 512. Revised by: Patrick F. O'Donovan Date of revision 14 February 2014