Quarry Rising South
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Cave is 2 km north-north-west of Carrickmacross, approximately 300 m north-east of Aphuca River Cave.
Description
Two risings in an old quarry about 80 m apart feed a short stream that flows south to join the Mile River.
Quarry Rising South is found at the southern end of the quarry face, where there is an obvious cave entrance. Water flows over a gravel bank at the entrance, and two streams meet at this point, one from the west and one from the north.
Just inside the cave entrance on the western side is a small phreatic tube. After several metres a larger, triangular-shaped passage is entered. 20 m from the entrance in a small chamber an awkward duck on the right offers a way on.
The northern stream passage is larger than Quarry Rising South and runs parallel to the quarry face and at several points it is possible to exit east to the meadow. The passage becomes small and difficult to follow and is finally culverted. At the end of the culvert a small pool is found on the surface (Quarry Rising North).
Previous records
None for Quarry Rising South?
Notes
Quarry Rising South probably connects with the Aphuca River Cave. There is no evidence of oil in the passage suggesting (if indeed this is the Aphuca River) that there is a permanent sump upstream.
On 29-11-08 large mudbanks were present on the right-hand side of the triangular passage making it a flat-out crawl sans helmet. The stream was found to be emerging from a narrow sump in the small chamber at the end. A small rock bridge at the mouth of the sump made access awkward.
A return visit on 06-03-09 found significantly less mud in the passage and lower water levels had reduced the terminal sump to a duck. Ducking is difficult, as the passage must be entered sideways. On 07-03-09 the rock bridge was removed but only a small amount of further progress was made in the duck.
