252 Proceedings of the Roijal Irish Academy. 



Route III. — This route can be taken only in the direction indicated, 

 owing to the descent of the Chimney (c) which leads from the high level 

 O'Leary's Cave to the Junction with Eoute I. 



You follow Eoute I as far as the great boss of stalagmite previously 

 mentioned in the House of Lords, and instead of bearing to the left continue 

 straight on for 11 yards in a southerly direction. You then negotiate a 

 steep descent through boulders, and dropping 22 feet enter the Cathedral, 

 a straight and lofty hall, with three symmetrically arranged passages 

 branching off on either side at right angles. 



The right-hand branch of the second of these is known as the Gallery of 

 Arches, and is remarkable for the enormous quantity of red clay it contains. 

 The limestone beds in this part of the cave dip at an angle of 35 degrees, 

 and this slope is thickly plastered over with clay, extending from the roof to 

 the floor, where it is piled up in irregular mounds. 



The Gallery of Arches is 25 feet high, and runs perfectly straight in a 

 westerly direction. On the right-hand side are two well-marked fissures 

 running down at right angles to the bedding planes, and extending upwards 

 to the roof. The first of these ends blindly at a very short distance ; but the 

 second is more 'extensive, and exhibits a downward prolongation of the 

 fissure — an opening known as the Pit. This is dangerous to approach 

 owing to the slippery nature of the clay slope which leads to it. It was 

 explored in September, 1908, by means of a rope-ladder, and found to be 

 30 feet deep, and so narrow that it was with the utmost difficulty a descent 

 could be made. 



On the left-hand side of the Gallery of Arches, opposite to the Pit 

 fissure, a prolongation of this latter leads into a criss-cross of passages at 

 right angles to one another, whence a return can be made through another 

 opening to the end of the great gallery. 



Ketracing your steps over the clayey floor of the Gallery of Arches, you 

 return to the Cathedral, and cross over to the corresponding passage on the 

 left side. 



You are now in a fine, lofty, water-worn tunnel with a level floor. 

 Bending slightly to the right, you make your way onwards for some distance, 

 until progress is stopped by a huge fallen boulder, which seemingly blocks 

 the entire cavity. Abou.t twelve yards, however, before reaching this point, 

 the opening of a narrow tunnel is passed on the left, which if followed upwards 

 leads into O'Leary's Cave on the high level (Chimney {a)). Standing 

 before the boulder, two passages are seen on the right, which lead into a 

 low-roofed chamber whose sloping floor is blocked with clay and stalagmite. 

 On the left a low arch conducts you to a winding path which, ascending 



