The Nought Percent: Exploration ofCreevy Cave in County Monaghan

摘要

When the Irish Caving Club (ICC)completed their survey in 1964 of a smallarea of limestone north of Carrickmacrossin County Monaghan they concluded that`the chance of finding anything else in thisarea comparable to these three caves isnow 0%.' The three caves they describedwere Fin McCool's Cave (also known asthe Aphuca Caves, 450m long), TiragarvanRiver Cave (200m long although dividedinto three sections by two shallow pots),and Poll'd (70m long with a 12m ladderpitch). Since then, some small extensionswere made by diving in Fin McCool's Caveand in Tiragarvan River Cave in 1973; inthe latter an estimated further 135m ofdry passage was discovered. However,as the Irish Troubles worsened, CountyMonaghan became a caving backwater, asits border with Northern Ireland made ita no-go area. No further exploration tookplace, and its known caves were quietlyforgotten in caving circles.