| It was an enthusiastic and unwary bunch that set off for Ireland on the evening of the 17th of September. We had arranged for the two vehicles to meet at the old Severn Bridge services to pick up Doug
at about 8.30pm(plus his full weeks supply of groceries, including an ample supply of apple
pies, this turned out to be Dougies favorite snack) and set off for the ferry terminal in convoy. It was a wet and wild night and we reached Fishguard at about 1:00am still rearing to go. Bad news! The Irish Sea was too stormy and the
3.00am ferry was cancelled, if we were lucky, we might be able to sail on
the 3:00pm crossing. Spirits plummeted faster than a crab dropped down a pitch.
After a cup of tea, everyone started to see the funny side of it. An uncomfortable night was had by all in the van, car and waiting room. We were all up again by about 8:00am (yes it was an uncomfortable night!) and repaired to Tesco's for breakfast. We did finally sail in the afternoon, enjoying a most stomach churning
crossing, and by about 7:00pm were on the road in Ireland. The roads were OK at first but soon it was dark, wet and blowing a gale and the roads more like tracks. Fish and chips proved elusive but were eventually caught. We finally reached our cottage at Doolin around about midnight, bemoaning the loss of good drinking time. It's that one over there said Jeff pointing to another cottage as he rushed to our real one to try and bag the best room. Biff strolled in last, straight into the only single room and took possession whilst the rest of us debated who was going to sleep on the floor. |
|
| On Sunday, eager to make up for lost time, we set off for Cullaun II. Where's my lamp said Mark. Don't know said the rest of us, didn't you bring one! We set off down a friendly little stream passage with Mark in the middle scrounging what little light spilt from the rest of us. Passed the 'Bloody Guts' and on down to the end. This is a fun climb down a busy waterfall which leads straight on to the sump. The sump closely resembled a large vat of Guinness, the water nearly as black and just as foamy. Biff was so desperate for a pint that he could not resist the urge to bathe in it and Mark because he couldn't see where he was going!! Back we went up the waterfall with the aid of a handline. We chatted to some friendly cyclists (outside the cave I might add) and were soon heading for home and the pub. |
|
| That evening poor Jeff lost his steak whilst trying to fend off his thieving mates (don't order first when hungry cavers are with you). Biff did his best to create a replica of the Cullaun sump in his belly, even eating Jeff's tea off the floor. Some of us walked decently home, others tried the ditch for size. Biff floated home. | |
Monday morning and the air was thick with odours (unpleasent ones) and recriminations. Kitted up, we set off for the St Catherine's - Fisher Street through trip. Even Biff managed to pull himself together for it. The Fisher Street pot has a nasty greasy approach, Erol got it rigged and Bill descended the ladder to check the water level, with 18" of air space it looked OK. Fisher Street starts out straight forward enough. A small passage through a boulder choke with a fast flowing stream looks unlikely but takes you through to a well decorated grotto. This one is a good hangover cure. Bill and Wayne did it twice just for the fun of fetching the rest of the party who were looking for a different way on. Many amazingly even discus shaped pebbles are to be found near the grotto and in the stream. The passage eventually deepened and then slowly the roof lowered revealing a recent covering of foam. Our pace quickened a little and soon we were out and at the bottom of the pitch where it had begun to rain. |
|
It rained all night. It was still raining in the morning. We set off to Enistymon and the shops. The river there was a raging torrent, generating clouds of spray. With the makings of a roast beef dinner purchased we returned to Doolin. It was still raining. A small party of cavers set out with a view to doing Pol-An-Ionain. Just up the road we stopped by a sign that said 'Road Flooded'. Bill was volunteered to wade into the flood to check its depth. It quickly reached the top of his wellington boots. Mark declined to drive his car through and we set off on a long detour. We parked up by a swollen stream and crossed a field to where we thought the cave was. All we found was a very muddy bank and a stream, no gated entrance. After much poking about elsewhere we returned to the stream and ventured into it. We discovered the door, completely submerged! After clearing some flood debris from around it, the stream found another course and the whole of the door was revealed. Bit dodgy we thought and left it for another day. |
 Biff & Karen, showing how useful an enormous gut is |
The Coolah River Cave entrance was also in strong flood with recent evidence of even higher levels causing a sink at its back entrance. On returning to Doolin the flood was seen to have claimed a number of victim cars. At home we might have put up a 'Road Closed' sign. The local mechanics were doing a good trade. We repaired to the cottage where Wayne had prepared a large Roast Beef dinner. |
|
The next day was brighter, even sunny. Floods still lingered. A team set of for the big pot at Poulelva whilst two of us went cycling. The pot was duly rigged for SRT and the stream passage at the bottom nervously explored for a short distance. Although not much was done Biff tried to convince everyone it was good SRT practice. The next day looked damp. Still, another small party was formed and we returned to Pol-An-Ionian. The swollen stream had abated and the stream at the entrance was much abated so in we went. The cave is a bit small and grovelly at first but soon gains the huge chamber where the 'Biggest Stalagmite in the World' can be admired. It really is very large (40 feet?), all on its own hanging from the roof of a huge chamber. Planning permission to turn this into a show-cave has been applied for. The cave really is just a one hit wonder. We moved on up to the edge of the moor and to Faunarooska. |
|
|
|
| Faunarooska starts with a very long narrow meandering stream passage that goes on and on. Towards the end after some low roofed parts the pretties begin. At the bitter end a climb and bit of a traverse gains some really most impressive formations. Well worth a visit. | |
|
|
Biff had cooked a curry. At the end of the meal when everyone had eaten so much, they could explode, Bill was dared to eat a whole roast chilli for £25. Greedy as ever he went for it, the look of disappointment was evident on everyone's face when nothing happened. Then all of a sudden it hit him, he wept in agony and being totally stuffed had no room for some water to ease the burden. How the others laughed. How Bill laughed at the money in his pocket (blown on dinner and beer the next night!). |
Our final day dawned dry. We all set off for the Poulelva - Poulnagollum through trip. We soon had the pot rigged and dropped. We set off up stream soon reaching the point reached two days before. The water level looked OK though there was again much fresh foam on the roof. The stream passage soon gains epic proportions with its rock cut into the most outrageous curves and fingers in three dimensions. The height of the passage is immense. The scalloping of the black rock is perfect. Caving in Ireland at its best. We emerged at Poulnagollum where a previously rigged hand line aided an easy ascent back to the surface. Back to Doolin and down to the pub for another fine steak. Doolin is the folk music capital of Ireland. The three bars have live music every night, traditional in the week for the tourists, more modern at the weekend for the locals. Other attractions include the stupendous Cliff's of Moher and the extensive areas of limestone pavement which stretch right down to the sea. The Arran islands can be seen just off the coast. We shall no doubt return one day. How refreshing it is not to need any keys or permits to go caving. Go prepared though for there is little if any local cave rescue organization. |
|
