Poll Dubh

As there had been heavy rain during the night and the day was forecast to be showery, rather than risk a trip in Doolin River Cave, we decided to visit Poll Dubh and probably Poll na Gree as well as neither are as serious a proposition in showery weather and are also located close to each other.
So a larger party of myself, Karen, Keith, Elaine, Simon, Shari, Boyd plus Robert Protheroe-Jones and his two lads headed for the area where the caves are located and parked in a hard-standing by a junction nearer to Poll Dubh.
While Boyd set off for a short walk, we all headed for the main entrance, Poll Dubh South, located a short distance away by walking into the clearing in the forest made for a set of electricity poles and then after a narrow clearing in the trees, followed a vague path for two of the poles and then into the trees on a narrow path which is quite boggy but has some wooden pallets, mostly now rotting away, to assist in avoiding the squelchier bits.
Soon we were at the entrance and once all had arrived, I went I a short way into the low initial section of the cave in order to avoid the midges which were gathering.
Once all were ready we continued on our way into the cave, first following the Poll Dubh South section which is initially a hands and knees crawl but soon enlarges into walking passage, passing a waterfall and easy climb up into the passage above where the water for the fall was flowing from, the waterfall being simply a hole in the wall of the passage above.
We continued following the easy passage passing the odd pretty formation on the way, passing a pool of water with a large block in it. I heard a splash behind me as apparently one of Robert's lads tried to avoid getting his feet we in the pool but slipped and fell in only to get more than just his feet wet!
We the came to a deeper pool and Karen paused there in order to avoid a wetting while the rest of us followed the passage which continued until the ceiling gradually lowered. At a convenient ledge on one side of the passage I sat and wait for the others to arrive and explained that the passage continued but got lower and lower eventually ending in a sump.
The others, except for myself and Keith who had been to the sump on a previous trip, went on for a short way while we waited.
Soon the others returned and we headed back to the climb by the waterfall. I climbed up first and waited while the others arrived and joined me except for Simon and Shari who were taking photos.
We waited a few minutes for them but as they still hadn't arrived and as Simon definitely knew the way into Poll Dubh North via this climb up, we headed off.
At a junction a bit further along, we paused while most had a look at a small well-decorated grotto straight ahead and then followed a passage leading to the left which was partly blocked by a flowstone formation but easily passed by crawling beneath.
Soon we arrived at on of the other entrances to the cave (B3a) but continued onwards into the main part of the cave of Poll Dubh North.
The passage was again easily followed with the odd short crab-walking or crawling until the passage narrowed and further progress is made easier by climbing up a couple of metres and then traversing on ledges leading to yet another entrance.
I helped Robert's two lads to climb up while they were joined by Keith and Robert to follow the shortish route to the exit.
Meanwhile I set off back intending to exit via the main entrance and found Karen and Elaine also heading back out. Soon we bumped into Simon and Shari heading for the same route as Keith, Robert and sons and after a quick chat, continued on our ways.
Arriving at the B3a entrance, Elaine and Karen exited the cave and I continued to head for the main entrance pausing to pick up Robert's BDH which he had left near the waterfall earlier.
Soon I was back on the surface in the conifer forest and after following the path back to the electricity poles, I caught up with Karen and Elaine who were waiting for me to arrive and then met Simon and Shari walking down the road heading towards where we had parked, where I could see the rest of the party nearly at the cars.
Keith, Karen Elaine and I decided to not bother with the second planned trip in Poll na Gree as it was past 16:00 (having gone underground at 13:15 or so) and we headed back to Doolin also bringing Robert's lad Rhodri with us, while the rest were joined by Boyd for a trip into Poll na Gree.
In the evening again Karen, Keith and myself returned to McDermott's for food joined later joined by Phil Walker who was also in Doolin with his family staying at “Atlantic View” holiday cottages up the hill towards the main road to Lisdoonvarna. Elaine and Mike plus later on Boyd also joined us and we were entertained greatly by the musicians “Foolin' in Doolin” (Michael “Blackie” O'Donnel playing Uielann Pipes, Karol Lynch on Tenor Banjo and Cyril O'Donaghue on Bazouki) who are without a doubt the best musicians to be seen at the pubs in Doolin.