i9i8. Praeger. — Derc-Ferna: The Cave of Dimmore. 149 



O'Donovan/ Wilde,^ and Joyce^ for identifying the Dearc 

 Fearna, or Cave of Alders, of the above MSS., with what 

 is now commonly named the Cave of Dunmore ; it is 

 important to note that those who should know best — the 

 local peasantry — still call this cavern by its ancient 

 designation — Dearc Fearna. An interesting reference to 

 the cave occurs in Broccan's Poem in the " Book of 

 Leinster " : — Ro shaltair for in luchthigern i ndorus derci 

 Ferna : the full passage in English reads as follows* : — 



Aithbel, she was a jewel of a worn ui, mother of Ercoil, the wife of Midgna, 

 Who killed the ten Fomorians in the strand at Tonn Chlidna, 

 Who burned the seven wild men in the glen at Sliabh Eibhlenn, 

 Who scattered the black fleet against which the men of Ireland failed, 

 Who hunted the red bag that drowned her in the midst of the Barrow, 

 Who trampled on the luchthigern in the door of Derc Ferna.^ 



The luchthigem, " lord of the mice " which this formidable 

 person treated so badly was a gigantic cat that lived in 

 the Cave of Dunmore, and of whose prowess wonderful tales 

 are told ; a Sabre-toothed Tiger could scarcely have been 

 more terrible. 



From these references belonging to the period of tradition 

 we pass somewhat abruptly to those of the period of 

 scientific observation. In the year 1709, Dr. Thomas 

 Molyneux, well known in connection with his discourse 

 on the " Irish Elk," visited the cave, and his picturesque 

 description, as preserved in his journal, was long afterwards 

 given to the world by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society 

 (11). Dr. Molyneux was much struck with the 

 " dreadfull Romantick appearance " of the entrance ; and 

 well describes how " from the top the water distilling in a 

 1,000 places, and trickling down the sides, was petrified, so 

 that the inside of ye Cave is almost entirely covered with 



1 " Annals of the Four Masters," loc. cit. ^ " Beauties of the Boyne 

 and Blackwater," p. 150, 1850. ^ " Irish Names of Places," 2nd ed. 

 I., p. 437, 1895. 



^ See T. O'N. Russell : Fiov Chlairseach na h'Eireann : " The True 

 Harp of Erin," pp. 121, 125 ; 1900. 



^ Mr. Russell translated this " Cave of Ferns " ; but Dr. Joyce informed 

 me there can be no doubt that the reference is to the Cave of Dunmore. 



B 



