Drinahilly - the old ventilation shaft Traditional Cache

This is an old ventilation shaft for the 2.5 mile section Mourne Aqueduct which passes underneath to transport water from Silent Valley to Belfast. Co-ordinates may not be very accurate due to heavy forest, look out for the large square tower hidden in the trees.

The Mourne Aqueduct was a major engineering achievement at the time, with parts at a depth of 600 feet below the surface. Shafts for air vents had to be sunk to help air circulation. Two shafts were blasted, one at Drinevaar (the other end of Donard Forest on Millstone Mountain), and one here near the summit of Drinahilly. The Drinahilly shaft was 214 feet to the bottom and a perfect level with the other tower. The tunnel was completed in 1901 after 4 years or hard labour . The other tower was demolised after completion of the tunnel as it was deemed an eyesore as it could be seen on the horizon when looking up from Newcastle, the rubble can still be seen lying on the mountainside, which is more of an eyesore if you ask me!