Donaghmoyne Rising
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Location
Donaghmoyne Rising (H8527 0708)
Description and history of diving
The rising, in the centre of Mannan Castle Golf Course, is now entered through a 15 m long culvert; some water from the rising is used to turn a nearby waterwheel. At the end of the culvert is a small chamber with a natural cliff exposed along the end wall. The cave entrance is a small hole at the lower left corner. Rising was listed in The Irish Caver and described as 'typical of the risings found in this area, the opening being no more than ten inches high mostly water.' It is believed to be the resurgence of water from the north, flowing via Blind Lough from Moylan Lough and (probably) Tullyvaragh Sink. There is a large wooded shakehole on the hillside above.
It was first entered and dived by Al Kennedy and Artur Kozlowski in June 2009, who explored 40 m of spacious cave in clear water, with a definite continuation.
References
The Irish Caver, 1st ed., 1965
Irish Sump Index, 1988
Descent, 209
Surveys
None entered.
Recent dives
11-06-09 - divers Al Kennedy and Artur Kozlowski
Light reconnaissance trip. Al entered culvert first with mask and searched for cave entrance. This was obvious, a hole at the lower left corner of a natural cliff which backed a small man-made chamber at the end of the culvert. Returning for weights it was possible to slide into the hole and it appeared to open out to the left and right. Diving on 7L and 3L Al moved some boulders at the entrance and slid in to large low chamber. Visibility of over 3 m allowed all the walls to be seen, and a large eel investigating the diver's legs. The way on lay over a large silt bank and the diver floundered up and over on hands and knees. The way on continued open, 1.5 m x 1.5 m with solid clean walls and roof, but sloped downwards over thick silt and without fins or buoyancy the diver decided to turn back, feeling along the line in a cloud of silt. Reel left some 10 m in, -2.1 m. Artur then dived, quickly picking up the reel and sliding down the slope to -7 m. Reel used as a belay at the EOL 40 m in. Passage continues!
23-09-09 - diver Al Kennedy; support Artur Kozlowski and Laura Nolan
Diving on two 7L cylinders with an 80 m reel, intention to survey and push passage. Silt bank at end of entrance chamber, at depth of -2 m, was higher and AK had to squeeze between the silt and the roof. After this the passage opened up as before and descended. At -5 m the roof became noticably lower and looking on a large rock was apparent close to the right wall, however there was enough space to pass between the roof, wall and rock. Moving on, several pieces of rock fell from the ceiling, one fist-sized, the others smaller, and AK backed out, holding his breath. Taking a closer look it seemed that the large rock was quite fresh. Not recalling anything in Artur's description of his dive in the rising, AK returned to quiz him further.
Artur could not recall crawling over any large rock, so AK returned to survey and make a better inspection of the area. Moving cautiously under the low section AK could see the roof and reaching up to it a large piece of rock came away in his hand. Several smaller pieces fell. To the left other large rocks were apparent in the passage. The limestone in the cave is quite friable, and its stability is questionable.
