Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 329 



LIII. — On the Exploration of the Knockninny Cave, Co. Fermanagh. 



By T. PLrxKETT. 



[Read 24th January, 1876.] 



Note. 



This Paper has been printed at length in the Science portion of the 

 Proceedings, second Ser., vol. ii., pp. 465-83, where it is illustrated by 

 ten -wood-engravings, from drawings by Mr. W. P. Wakeman. As some 

 of these come within the scope of the portion of the Proceedings 

 which is devoted to Antiquities, they are here reproduced, with such 

 brief descriptions as may be required in explanation. But readers 

 who wish for fuller particulars, and especially as to the animal 

 remains found in the cave, should refer to the Paper itself as printed. 



Abstract. 



Knockninny is the name of a rocky mountain on the southern 

 shore of upper Lough Erne, 10 miles from Euniskillen, and 2 from 

 the village of Derrylin. It rises abruptly to a height of nearly 700 

 feet above sea level. On three rocky hillocks, at intervals along its 

 top there are three earns (one of which is the finest in Fermanagh), and 

 on its eastern slopes are two " giants' graves." These, with the earns, 

 are described by Mr. AYakeman in the Paper which follows this. 



The neighbourhood abounds in objects of archaeological interest. 

 There are many rude stone monuments, of unknown antiquity, and 

 also numerous remains of an early Christian population. 



The cave, the subject of this Paper, is a new feature amongst the 

 antiquities, in some respects probably unique in Europe. The large 

 cinerary urn (p. 334) is, so far as the writer is aware, the first of its 

 kind found in any cave in Europe. 



The cave is on the property of Lord Erne, who gave permission to 

 have it examined. A large portion of Knockninny Hill, however, be- 

 longs to J. Gr. V. Porter, Esq., of Belleisle, and it was at that gentle- 

 man's instance, and with the aid of labourers provided by him, that 

 the exploration was undertaken by Mr. Plunkett. Having met Mr. 

 Plunkett in the previous June, whilst engaged in exploring some caves 

 in the mountains west of Enniskillen, Mr. Porter asked him to make 

 a preliminary inspection of the " fox-cave " at Knockninny, and ascer- 

 tain if it was worth exploring : proposing to supply any labourers 

 required. This invitation Mr. Plunkett accepted, and on a conve- 

 nient day he proceeded to the cave, accompanied by two of Mr. 

 Porter's labourers. 



The position of Knockninny Hill, geographically and geologically, 

 is fully described in the Paper from which this is abstracted. 



