Poulnagan / Pollnacloigeann
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Location
Behind Mass rock near Roo Demense. Half way between Moy (Quinn’s Cave) and risings in Carranroo Bay, west of Kinvara
Description
Small cave with two sumps at the bottom of small cliff . Situated in depression that forms pond during floods. Pump house is built behind it, wide rift going 6 m down to water level. According to landowner, that water, which is usually crystal clear, rises and falls with tides and flows in wet weather( and then becomes brownish).
Previous records
No record of previous diving. Site was visited by M. Farr and P. Cronin in 80's they spotted only Poulnagan - big deep depression some 60m away with standing water 'too full of vegetation too dive' (Caves of county Clare and South Galway)
Notes
According to local tradition and folklore studies, there was long ago a college near the site and the students most likely monks, were killed during Cromwellian times, and their heads thrown into a nearby chasm. (Poulnegan – Cave/Hole of the Head ( Irish) p.comm)
1. The site is only ~1km from the sea and Carranroo risings
2. It's ~2.5km FURTHER towards sea from Pollbehan ( if we assume that conduit goes through Quinn's Cave)
3. In winter water flows from SE to NW
4. Potential to give access to the conduit that Poulnegan collapsed into
Recent dives
08-09.08.2008
Diver: Artur Kozlowski
Definitely new dive site, very challenging sidemounted project, upstream after one spacious chamber and squeeze cave terminates in small chamber which surfaces in air space near entrance but way on seems to be too tight underwater. Downstream it's a series of chambers connected by tight squeezes but there's still passable way on. EOL downstream 30m, depth -4m. EOL Upstream 10m, depth -3m. There's a animal skull in second chamber that's why called it Pollnacloigeann - Hole of the Skull just to differentiate it from Poulnagan - Hole of the Heads, big collapse filled with shallow water and vegetation 60m away.
17.08.2008
Diver: Artur Kozlowski
Access was somehow easier due to higher water level (+1.5m) Water still clear although not as much as last time - substantial flow was present carrying some amount of suspended particles. I brought camera with me and after taking few shots of skull ( anyone has idea what animal skull is it? Dog? It's about 25cm long) I've left camera on the line and tried to negotiate The Squeeze. After good 5 minutes of wriggling without success I removed one of my 7l tanks from the harness, went feet first and pulled it in behind me. The way on from the end of the line seemed to be tight, dodgy (read unstable) and silty but half way between The Squeeze and EOL I have spotted some other lead on left hand side, big enough which seemed to open up even more further on. I made a junction and started laying new line but after first belay I heard loud bang 'behind' me, something like falling rocks so I left reel in place and started immediate return.Luckily everything was clear all the way back but I finished dive anyway.
18.08.2008
Diver: Artur Kozlowski
Surprisingly water level was low again and flow much reduced. I followed that new lead that I mentioned in last post but after ~10m I couldn't find any passable way on. However I found new big chamber 3x6, parallel to Skull Chamber with some way on that seemed to surface at the far end - I'll check it next time. I have also spotted two small shafts in the roof of terminal upstream chamber and they seemed to surface as well. It might be worth of checking, some further dry passages may lie behind.
