ESCR - Outlying Sites in Fermanagh & Tyrone; Slieve Beagh area

Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report
Outlying Sites in Fermanagh & Tyrone; Slieve Beagh area	Fermanagh, Tyrone

Site number:	1168
ESCC:	IC
Locality Type:	Karst	Status:	ASSI
Grid Reference:	H4840,H4844,H5244,H5240 Corners of site, Not Entered
Google maps:	54.30698,-7.26258
County:	Fermanagh, Tyrone	Council area:	Fermanagh & Omagh District Council
Period:	Quaternary, Carboniferous
Stages:	Holocene, Visean
Lithostrat:	Dartry Limestone Formation

Site Description
Highlights:
No significant karstification has been described from the Slieve Beagh area.
Introduction:
A number of areas of Asbian Limestone outcrop are shown on the GSNI 1:500,000 sheet and 1:50,000 sheets 45 (Enniskillen) and 46 (Clogher). In addition a number of potential sites are marked on 1:10,000 sheet 214. There is no published material referring to karst in the Slieve Beagh area. Areas of potential karstification were examined and sites noted. Karstification of the limestones on Slieve Beagh is poorly developed and is generally in areas of cultivated forest. In the light of this no areas suitable for designation were identified.
Description:
Large areas of Dartry Limestone are shown, on GSNI 1:50,000 sheets 45 and 46, to outcrop on the western flanks of Slieve Beagh. The presence of these limestones on significant positive relief, in conjunction with a shale - sandstone cap to Slieve Beagh, suggests excellent potential for karst and cave development. There are, however, a number of Tertiary dolerite dykes trending parallel to the strike of the limestones and these may have an inhibitory effect on speleogenesis. One major site, marked Sumera Hole on 1:10,000 214 is worthy of mention. Sumera Hole is located at H48254198, within forestry plantation. It consists of a closed depression ~100m in diameter. A number of small streams sink at this site, but no negotiable cave passage exists at the sink.
Importance:
The poorly developed and scattered karst observed on Slieve Beagh is of only minor local significance.
Interpretation:
Upland Asbian limestones of the Dartry Limestone on the western flank of Slieve Beagh are poorly karstified, probably due to the presence of Tertiary dolerite dykes through the limestone outcrop.
Conclusions:
CONCLUSION There is no significant karstification in the Slieve Beagh area.
Notes:
For information and reference lists on the systems and features of other outlying karst areas in Fermanagh and Tyrone see; Key Site 1163 - Garrison Key Site 1164 - Fardrum Key Site 1165 - Kiltierney Deer Park Key Site 1166 - Knockninny & Molly Mountain Key Site 1167 - Lough Lee-Binnawooda area. BIOLOGICAL INTEREST There are no biospeleological records for caves or karst in the Slieve Beagh area.

Keywords
Rocks:	Limestone

Measurements
Length:		Width:		Height:
Depth:		Area:	16 km2

Uses
Uses:	Much of the area is dominated by forestry and upland farming.

References (28)
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Barnes, S., 1994. Preliminary Hydrological Investigation of the Area between Carnlough and Waterfoot, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. (Thesis) University of East Anglia.
Boon, M., 1977. Down to a Sunless Sea.
Brook, D., 1971. Notes on the Reyfad Area. University of Leeds Speleological Association Review, numb. 8.
Clark, S., 1975. Hull University Speleological Society Expedition to Northern Ireland 1975. Hull University Speleological Society.
Coleman, J., 1965. The Caves of Ireland. Anvil Books, Tralee.
Drew, D.et al., 1977. Caves and Karsts of Ireland. In 7th International Speleological Congress British Cave Research Association.
Fletcher, T.P., 1977. Lithostratigraphy of the Chalk (Ulster White Limestone Formation) in Northern Ireland. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences, vol. 77/14.
Gunn, J., 1985. Water Tracing in the North Cuilcagh Karst. Irish Speleology, vol. 3 pt. 2.
Halliwell, R.A., 1970. An Elementary Study of the Cave Morphology and Seepage in the Reyfad-Pollnacrom System. Transactions of the Cave Research Group of Great Britain, vol. 12 numb. 4.
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Jameson, H.L., 1896. On the Exploration of the Caves of Enniskillen and Mitchelstown for the R.I.A. Flora and Fauna Committee. Irish Naturalists Journal, vol. 5, pp.93-100, plates 1.
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Legg, I.C., Johnston, T.P., Mitchell, W.I. & Smith, R.A., 1995. Geology of the country around Derrygonelly and Marble Arch. Memoirs of the Geological Survey Northern Ireland, vol. Sheet 44,56,43.
Magennis, P., 1874. The Ribbon Informer. A Tale of Lough Erne. Frederick Bell and Co.
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McKay, S., 1987. The Chemical Differentiation of Carbonate Aquifers in the Karst of North-West Ireland, with a view to predicting the type and length of cave system under Belmore Mountain. (Thesis) University of Bristol.
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Mitchell, W.I., 1983. High grade Dolomite deposits in the Belcoo - Boho area of County Fermanagh. (Unpublished Report) Geological Survey of Northern Ireland Open File Reports, vol. 68.
Nichols, A., 1970. Cambridge University Caving Club Expedition to Ireland, 1970. Cambridge University Caving Club.
Oswald, D.H., 1955. The Carboniferous Rocks between the Ox Mountains and Donegal Bay. Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 111, pp.167-186.
Sheridan, D.J.R., 1972. Upper Old Red Sandstone and Lower Carboniferous of the Slieve Beagh Syncline and its setting in the northwest Carboniferous basin, Ireland. Special Papers of the Geological Survey of Ireland, vol. 2, pp.1-120.
Williams, P.W., 1970. Limestone morphology in Ireland. In Irish Geographical Studies, pp.105-124 Queens University of Belfast.

Map(s):	GSNI 1:500,000 Sheet; GSNI 1:50,000 Sheet 45 (Enniskillen); GSNI 1:50,000 Sheet 46 (Clogher); OSNI 1:50,000 Sheet 18 (Enniskillen).
Record type:	ESCR report
Entered by:	E M Porter

Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Outlying Sites in Fermanagh & Tyrone; Slieve Beagh area, County Fermanagh, Tyrone, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=1168. Accessed on 2026-11-08.