Owenbrean River
Encyclopedia
The Owenbrean River is a small river in County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
which flows down from Cuilcagh Mountain before sinking underground, eventually reaching the Marble Arch Cave
system. The river meets up with two other mountain rivers within the caves, the Sruh Croppa and the Aghinrawn; these three rivers then form the River Cladagh
.
The Owenbrean flows underground through Pollasumera, until it sumps and appears again in nearby Pollnagollum of the Boats. The river eventually enters the Marble Arch system via Skreen Hill 3, a 650 metres (2,132.5 ft) long stretch of cave only accessible by divers, Skreen Hill 2 and Skreen Hill 1, which is the furthest part of the show cave. During the guided tour of the Marble Arch Caves
, visitors are led on a subterranean pathway alongside the Owenbrean River, as well as travelling upon it for a short while on an underground boat journey. The Owenbrean meets the combined Sruh Croppa and Aghinrawn at The Junction, which is half way along the boat tour.
(OSNI) maps have the middle and eastern rivers wrongly marked. Locally the central river flowing to Monastir Cliff (the Owenbrean on OSNI maps) has always been called the Aghinrawn and the eastern river, sinking at Pollasumera (unnamed on the OSNI maps) is the Owenbrean. All other literature adheres to this local usage.
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
which flows down from Cuilcagh Mountain before sinking underground, eventually reaching the Marble Arch Cave
Marble Arch Caves
The Marble Arch Caves are a series of natural limestone caves located near the village of Florencecourt in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. They are formed by water draining off the northern slopes of Cuilcagh mountain.- History of exploration :...
system. The river meets up with two other mountain rivers within the caves, the Sruh Croppa and the Aghinrawn; these three rivers then form the River Cladagh
River Cladagh
The Cladagh River is a small river in County Fermanagh which rises from Marble Arch Caves, below Cuilcagh Mountain, before flowing through Cladagh Glen Nature Reserve and eventually draining into the Arney River.- Below ground :...
.
Main route
The Owenbrean drains the north-eastern slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain and the southern and western slopes of Trien Mountain. After meandering northwards for 5 km (3.1 mi), it turns abruptly west into a confined, blind gorge for 300 m (984.3 ft) before swinging north into the magnificent gothic entrance of Pollasumera, set in 20 m (65.6 ft) high cliffs. In dry weather, the river drains into its bed in the gorge before reaching the cave.The Owenbrean flows underground through Pollasumera, until it sumps and appears again in nearby Pollnagollum of the Boats. The river eventually enters the Marble Arch system via Skreen Hill 3, a 650 metres (2,132.5 ft) long stretch of cave only accessible by divers, Skreen Hill 2 and Skreen Hill 1, which is the furthest part of the show cave. During the guided tour of the Marble Arch Caves
Marble Arch Caves
The Marble Arch Caves are a series of natural limestone caves located near the village of Florencecourt in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. They are formed by water draining off the northern slopes of Cuilcagh mountain.- History of exploration :...
, visitors are led on a subterranean pathway alongside the Owenbrean River, as well as travelling upon it for a short while on an underground boat journey. The Owenbrean meets the combined Sruh Croppa and Aghinrawn at The Junction, which is half way along the boat tour.
Separation
Upstream of the main sinks in the blind gorge, the Owenbrean is also known to lose a portion of its flow as it is diverted into the Upper and Lower Sinks. These feed into the Prod's Pot–Cascades Rising cave system, from which the waters emerge above ground again around 2.5 km (1.6 mi) away in Cladagh Glen, rejoining the Owenbrean's original flow in its new form as the River Cladagh (Dunn, J.).Note on naming
The Marble Arch system is fed by three small rivers that drain the north face of Cuilcagh Mountain. East to west these are the Owenbrean, the Aghinrawn and the Sruh Croppa. The Ordnance Survey of Northern IrelandOrdnance Survey of Northern Ireland
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland was the official mapping agency of Northern Ireland. The agency ceased to exist separately on 1 April 2008 when it became part of Land and Property Services Northern Ireland, an executive agency of the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel, along...
(OSNI) maps have the middle and eastern rivers wrongly marked. Locally the central river flowing to Monastir Cliff (the Owenbrean on OSNI maps) has always been called the Aghinrawn and the eastern river, sinking at Pollasumera (unnamed on the OSNI maps) is the Owenbrean. All other literature adheres to this local usage.