https://cuilcaghlakelands.org/geosite/white-fathers-cave/
Whitefathers Cave is a beautiful example of the hundreds of kilometres of cave systems which lie beneath Cavan and Fermanagh. This cave and its environs give visitors an excellent insight into cave formations and an insight into the incredible geological history that lies beneath our feet. The surrounding woodland dominated by ash makes this site a magical stop for visitors to the Geopark.
Please view the cave entrance from the safety of the path – do not enter the cave.
Facilities: car parking and interpretation.
White Fathers Cave
This site is an excellent example of the numerous limestone caves within the Geopark. Whitefathers Caves are a series of three caves that are a magnificent display of how an active stream can form such an incredible cavity underground. The caves are incredibly beautiful, and although they reach no further than 400 metres, are well worth the visit. The third cave is the longest and contains the deepest water. Because these caves are home to active streams, the water acts as a kind of cleaner, leaving the formations free from dirt and grime which allows for a great view of the calcite formations when research is being carried out. These active streams begin at the lower slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain before they disappear underground. Lucky for us now, a section of the river that used to be underground has revealed itself over time, meaning it is now exposed and also reveals a short path. This would have been covered before, but now gives us a window into the magic of the cave.
Whitefathers Cave is also a protected area, as it is home to the Daubenton’s Bat, which dwells among the crevices and hunts along the surface of the river. It’s also home to many species of spider, freshwater shrimps and moths.
The site gets its name from what used to be a nearby monastery, named Whitefathers Noviciary.
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Distances are from White Fathers Cave
This is a cooperation project between Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Cavan County Council.
This element of the project is part funded under Priority 6 (LEADER) of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the European Union. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of County Cavan Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Cavan County Council, Breffni Integrated CLG, Department of Rural and Community Development, the EU and EAFRD in part-funding this project. Funded by the Irish Government Under the Leader Programme 2014-2020.
