In recent years the Shannon Group have found themselves increasingly drawn to some of the lesser visited caving regions in Ireland, particularly Counties Sligo and Leitrim.  Following some prospecting and exploration this summer in the Largy townland on the Truskmore Massif, between Glencar and Glenade, we organised an expedition-at-home in early September.  Over 9 days, 18 Irish (more or less!) cavers explored and surveyed 20+ potholes in the Long Holes, the local name for several series of caves developed within faults on the moor and therefore strongly aligned with each other.  Several other potholes not associated with the rifts were also explored and several new finds were made.  The most significant finds were within Deep Pot On Largy, a somewhat mythical cave within the Shannon Group, and which we believed had significant depth potential.  We were not disappointed, and in the latter half of the expedition several rigging, exploration and surveying trips were made to this fantastic cave.  The surveyed length is some 350 m, much of it vertical within two parallel shafts.  The surveyed depth is now 96 m from the higher sink entrance (a new connection to the main cave) to partway down Snakes-And-Ladders (a series of tight crawls and pots pushed on the expedition).  A recent pushing trip during SUICRO 2012 has extended the Snakes-And-Ladders series to take the cave to an estimated 110 m deep...   

During one of the Deep Pot survey trips on the expedition, Quentin Cooper made a video of the cave, with Jim Warny, Gaelan Elliffe and Tim O'Connell.  This premiered at SUICRO. 

The video runs from the main entrance, Entrance Chamber/Pitch 1, Waterfall Series and Pitch 2 to the Window Series, the Window Series pitch, the Phantom Disconnect Aven with graffitti, and then the entrance to Jenga.  The final section of video shows the third pitch on the Waterfall Series.  Draft plans of the cave are at the end of the video. 

We hope you enjoy! 

Quentin and Al

Deep Pot Cave in Largy, Co.Leitrim - Ireland