Brodkick — The Marhle Arch Caves, County Fermanagh. 185 



re-appear at three points at the base of the limestone. The eaves into which 

 the two outer streams flow are comparatively short, nor are the stream- exits 

 of great interest ; in the case, however, of the central stream, which goes by 

 the name of the Monastir Eiver, there are very many points of great interest. 



I propose to deal with the central stream, and the caves and pot-holes 

 which are directly or indirectly connected with it. This stream (which also 

 goes by the name of Owenbrean, or ' foul river') after leaving the Yoredales 

 flows through a narrow valley. The sides are composed of limestone, and 

 rise to a height of at least 100 feet. In one place this valley is contracted 

 into a gorge, the whole width of which is filled by the stream, while the clift's 

 rise sheer to a height of at least 120 feet. Below this point the valley widens 

 slightly, while its sides are very steep, with here and there precipices rising 

 to the level of the plateau above. At the base of one of these precipices, on 

 the west side of this stream, is an opening about 5 feet high and 3 feet 

 wide, which seems to have previously escaped notice, being obscured by 

 brambles, etc. This cave was found on the first expedition by two of the 

 party who had gone for a stroll while the other members were cooking a meal 

 at the foot of the Monastir cliff. The roof lowers rapidly, and at a distance 

 of 15 feet is only about 3 feet high. Immediately beyond this point, one 

 enters a very fine chamber, which runs parallel with the cKff face. This 

 chamber, the walls of which are composed of brilliantly white limestone, 

 is 200 feet long, and 20 feet wide at its widest point ; while at each end it 

 thins out into a crack too narrow to admit of passage. Its height is at least 

 80 feet, while at various points in the roof and in the wall, on the valley side, 

 are openings through which the light streams ; and strands of \yj hang down, 

 the whole making a picture which once seen can never be forgotten. As this 

 cave was unnamed, and had, in all probability, never been entered before, we 

 decided to give it the name of Templebawn (the White Church;. 



In times of normal rainfall the stream sinks in its rocky bed at a point a 

 little below Templebawn, but in times of flood flows on into the Monastir 

 Cave, and even in times of excessive flood fills the lower end of the valley to 

 a depth of at least 30 feet, as evidenced by the floodmarks. About 150 yards 

 below the point where the stream sinks normally, the valley is cut off' by a 

 straight vertical cliff at right angles to its direction. This cliff rises to a height 

 of 130 feet, and has at its base two openings ; the one to the east is small, and 

 from it flows the stream which sank further up the valley. This flows for a 

 few yards along the foot of the cliff, and then disappears into the other open 

 ing which forms the mouth of the Monastir Cave. The first portion of the cave 

 runs parallel to the cliff face for 60 feet, rising from a height of 8 feet to a 

 chamber at least 80 feet high, while its width increases from 5 to 10 feet 



[2E*] 



