UPDATE! Temporary fencing has now been put up around the holes. No official reply yet, but I’m assuming this means they have plans for something more permanent.

@Oi999Pa

2 ай бұрын

Did you have many underground coal mines or other mines in Ireland ????

@nathanfarra6371

2 ай бұрын

Why are they full of water? Is it the water table, or do they not drain well, and they are full rain water build up?

@kentworch

2 ай бұрын

Still an awesome discovery, and for those wondering why they are full of water, that would probably make sense if they were test holes. Filling up with water would probably be what they were testing for to see if it was suitable to build a dam there. If they fill up with water, the soil is saturated and a dam might wash away which would explain why they didn't build one.

@MrWeedWacky

Ай бұрын

4:30 - that's not a house, that's a mansion, and it's probably more like 500-1000 years old.

@efuller6770

Ай бұрын

Awesome and good job with the string. Hopefully you get to know for sure

Not often KZread recommendations turns up a gem but this time it did

@dianelively8582

2 ай бұрын

Ditto! 👍🏼

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thank you ! Spent ages on this 🙂

@lazylaserwhittling

2 ай бұрын

its becoming rare to find intelligence presented on any media platform anymore, but thankfully there are these that make the trawling worthwhile.

@harrywalker968

2 ай бұрын

excrement video.. i thought might be mines, for lime..britt, living in aus.. like all britts, should.. oh,,& some irish.. we have an irish day.. & cornish hisory..moonta mines,. s.a. @@StephenJReid

@M1lh0u53ISGaming

2 ай бұрын

Absolute. banger.

I just spent 21 minutes looking at a video about holes. I enjoy.

@M.Holland

22 сағат бұрын

Every man, ever.

@petimees8844

20 сағат бұрын

@@M.Holland ngl there was also good looking sticks there so that's a bonus

the bit at the end proves you, sir, are a good soul.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Or I’m just trying to avoid liability 😂

@livingonthetyne

2 ай бұрын

@@StephenJReid "Stephen made me go and I tripped over the bobbed wire and fell in the hole head first and died" ... as he tells god why he is dead. ... hahah anyone falling in them holes alone is not getting back out haha.

@Simon_J_Hodge_Outdoors

2 ай бұрын

He’s just a testhole

@kevinfoster1138

Ай бұрын

​@@StephenJReidyou're only reliable if you own the land.

@thekeysman6760

3 сағат бұрын

​@@livingonthetyneBarbed* wire.

Discussing history isn't political... it's historical. If the British government couldn't give a flying what not about the starving Irish...you are entitled to say it, without worrying about whether or not it's politcal. Fascinating video...and some great images inside those holes 👍 Excellent 👏

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

I did criticise our current government, that’s definitely political. But yes historical facts shouldn’t be, but not everyone agrees on the facts

@TIMMEH19991

23 күн бұрын

As an English man, I'm ashamed of how my ancestors abused the Irish. It was a disgusting time in our history.

@jimrobertson8357

21 күн бұрын

@@TIMMEH19991 The land owners abused their English tenants too. As long as they had money coming in they did not care about their tenants

@SpectatorCentr

12 күн бұрын

@@TIMMEH19991 👍👌

@M.Campbell-Sherwood

4 сағат бұрын

😹🤣 Irish history is always political.

Hi Stephen. My name is Ed Young & I live in the Southern United States. I'm 63 years old and this is the very first video of yours I've watched. Already, I'm hooked. Your presentation is excellent. The humor in the video is priceless with all the funny texts you include to poke fun at you. At the same time i admire your work because you've obviously done your research and checked out your findings with reputable sources. BRAVO! I cant wait to see more of your videos. Keep up the great work. - Ed

Good lad ringing the water service and putting up that make shift fence!What a terrifying end it would be if some camper fell into that hole.....

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, accident waiting to happen! Very few people will likely ever be in that exact area, but I came across it so I’m sure I’ll not be the only one.

@brigidmccarthy5800

2 ай бұрын

No s*** I'd be freaked out I'd be dead probably I camp a lot😮

@prismpixie6379

Ай бұрын

Ya, no one camps up there. It's still contaminated.

@duudsuufd

22 күн бұрын

Perfectly taken over by nature and then you add plastic wire...

@StephenJReid

22 күн бұрын

@@duudsuufd there’s nothing natural about the monoculture spruce plantation that’s growing around it.

You could have spun a fantastic yarn about the great leprechaun hunt of 1835 and how these were the remnants of the traps 🤣

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Naw that happened in 1786, everyone knows that 😂

@MrWeedWacky

Ай бұрын

Those were not the traps, those were the places they were digging for the pots of gold, the leprechauns got people digging till their arms tired and then slipped away in the dead of night.

@phillipkennedy508

Ай бұрын

@@StephenJReid 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@phillipkennedy508

Ай бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@amandakidwell1740

20 күн бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Very interesting. The idea of someone walking through those woods (especially at night) not knowing those holes were there, terrifies me. I do wonder why the test holes were made so close to houses though.

@IrelandOutdoors

2 ай бұрын

Hi, my latest research puts these holes at about 1945, long after the houses were abandoned. I suspect the holes put there because of ease of access, there was probably remains of old tracks to those houses still in 45.

@NaziHampster

2 ай бұрын

@@IrelandOutdoors That makes sense. Cheers for reply and happy history hunting.

@offan-

Ай бұрын

@@IrelandOutdoors right since the old map was marking the kilns, that means the holes could be made at any time. thanks for the update

@jimijamesjowitt

7 күн бұрын

​@@offan- Maybe the map was scaled differently than assumed. Those "dwellings" were probably the lime kilns and the dwellings long gone.

Recommendations for further investigation: Attach a hook to a rope and pull out limbs and debris. Attach weight to rope and get depth measurement. Attach magnet to rope and see if you have any luck. Attach GoPro to rope and lower to half a foot shy of bottom. Hopefully you now have a water hole that is free from obstructions and by dropping short you won't have soot (mulm) blacking out the visibility for best production result.

The old maps reminded me of time spent in the local reference library poring over OS maps from the 18/1900's looking for cool things to explore. I was a weird kid! We found a couple of forgotten wells around Ballymena, one in Ballykeel and one in Galgorm, along with an overgrown ringfort in the grounds of Galgorm Castle. It's really cool that all that historical information is available online now. Back then they wouldn't even let us make photocopies of the maps so we sat in the library sketching them out by hand.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Class! Were the wells still there?

@chrisstewart2279

2 ай бұрын

We did the same and found a mini Stonehenge near Newcastle and we did go and find it ,it we cool to see

You're the 678th channel I've subscribed to in the past 10 years. Now I'm having to ignore 677 of them whilst I go through your very interesting back catalogue of over 400 videos. Now I have something to keep me busy for a few weeks.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Hey thanks! Most of them aren’t like this one so hopefully you enjoy a rather wide range of videos! 🙂🙂 great to have you onboard

@TheMatthooks

2 ай бұрын

It's say they're unlikely to be test bores for a reservoir. They would normally be drilled, and be a maximum of 12 inches diameter. I would suggest the water supply idea is asking the right lines, but not actually test bores.

@daveparnell3886

Ай бұрын

​@@TheMatthooks In the 1800s most wells / test holes were hand dug, therefore they were a lot larger than 12"

It's like watching Tony Robinson on Time Team, but less geophysics! Excellent stuff...

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

With my maths ability, probably best I avoid physics! 😂 thanks

The first thing I thought when I saw you standing next to that thing was “death trap”. Imagine falling into that thing and realizing that no one knows where you are, while you tread water… 🙁

Now that was a fun and interesting, and investigative story - really enjoyed that :)

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Have a couple more videos planned in a similar style. Although maybe not as in depth. This took forever to piece together

I'm glad you contacted the government and let them know that the barbed wire was down. It would be bad for some midnight hiker to fall in one of these holes. Your documentary was excellent! Your research was very good. Professionally done! Very interesting and educational content! Thank you.

That gopro footage looks like the start of a good horror movie!

So glad you secured those holes Stephen, great video once again. Old ruins in the trees are beautiful. This is proper exploring finding gems like this to make you curious of what was once going on in these areas many years ago. Great work by the guys doing the map research 👏

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Ben! Gary was a massive help, he's going to find himself recruited again 🤣

That explains my friends house , I commented on his shed once and he said there's 6 more down in the forest , an entire village abandoned. Yea top of a mountain almost with river flowing right through it, I know a few more near me but lucky for me never found a hole like that yet or fallen in one.

The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth.

That was fascinating Stephen and well done for securing it so less likely for someone to be killed

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Stephen!

@thekeysman6760

3 сағат бұрын

@stephengraham6194 For "someone to be " involves something different to them falling in a hole and dying. Think about it.

the algorithm worked today, glad this showed up for me

Had me gripped there Stephen in your uniquely modest, self-deprecating but infectious style. 👏 Atb, Paul

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Paul 🙂

That's what I like a good investigation,,, dig up history, maps , papers etc.... Excellent Work Sir !!! Thank You !!!!

wow, that was exciting, no matter what it ended up being 👍! That was the first video of yours. My ancestors are Irish and unfortunately I don't know anything about them but I definitely want to go to Ireland ❤️

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Angie! 🙂 so much history here. It’s crazy how many people emigrated from Ireland all around the world.

@AngiefromthesparklingRiver

2 ай бұрын

@@StephenJReid yes, unfortunately circumstances forced so many to move away. It must have been an unimaginably hard time for everyone, otherwise who would want to leave such a beautiful country. I'm definitely looking forward to what you'll discover in further videos.🙂

Brilliant follow up video Stephen 👍 And thank you for doing all that research and then sharing it with us. I love this type of history.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Ivan!

I think this format is working for you. I loved it. I would have one for you that would take you back to donegal - Gila Island and the history of why people went off the island. Keep going Stephen - you are beginning to snowball.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks🙂 I’m not going to make every video like this as I put probably over 40hours into this, but I am going to try and incorporate a bit more history or interesting location facts or just telling stories into my other videos. Planning to go back to Donegal Soon so Gila Island sounds very interesting!

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Did you mean Gola Island? It’s on my list 🙂

@Shawhir

2 ай бұрын

@@StephenJReid i dont blame yah - thats a good bit if work. Ill just say shipwreck of whiskey or so the story goes. Over that way a bit further south too is inishmurray - easily got to from mullaghmore and it has some stories. You never know - these places could spark some ideas.

@thekeysman6760

3 сағат бұрын

​@@ShawhirHi. I'm new here and enjoying it! So regards this 'format' you mention, what are the characteristic features that are repeated in each video, please?

You, Stephen, are brilliant! And to do the right thing at the end too? Brilliant x2! What a brilliant story!

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Tom! 🙂 not my usual video type but too good a story to pass but

This whole saga has been riveting! Thanks to you and also Gary for doing the research. Quite the rabbit hole! 🕳️

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! 🙂

Amazing Stephen! I’ve been sooo looking forward to that! You have an amazing talent for creating stories on film and what a show that was! It was a real pleasure to work with you and have to say, a real satisfaction getting to the “bottom” of it! Thanks for the shout out BTW, very kind indeed! I was actually getting embarrassed at one point😂 So thanks again and maybe catch you out the hills sometime! ATB

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks very much! I’ve spent so much time in the edit that I was boring myself when watching it so was worried it would bore everyone else too! Still glad I cut it down from 50minutes! Thanks for your help, you may have set a precedent every time I find something old and interesting 😂

@IrelandOutdoors

2 ай бұрын

@@StephenJReidAny time Stephen!

@IrelandOutdoors

2 ай бұрын

@@StephenJReidoh btw, I would have watched the 50 min directors cut no problem!!

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Haha I cut my first attempt with the camera where I forgot to switch it on, second attempt where it failed because I didn’t use a dive housing, a lot more of various theories that didn’t really go anywhere, a rant about the state of native forests in Ireland that didn’t feel relevant and a 3min long ending where I just went over everything again

@chrisstewart2279

2 ай бұрын

Well the final cut worked well

An excellent video young Stephen, thankfully you got answers to all the questions. Many thanks for all your hard work.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Andy 🙂

Same builder Oak Island!!

Yeah that really was fascinating. Thanks for investigating and making this alternative set of videos upon discovering the holes. Loved this, really well done too, and looking forward to any confirmation you get. Hope they'll put up fences too. Nice work on the temp ones, much better than the ankle high trip wire 👌

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Hope I hear back soon

The ending of the video really wraps up all the loose ends. Thank you for making it safer for the souls who wander into those areas in the future.

This was super interesting Stephen! Exactly the kind of content that keeps me watching. Love local history mysteries. Absolutely brilliant video.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! I might have to do more

Absolutely great video steven ! A lot of effort has clearly gone into this so well done you !! Always great work from you 💪💪

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Matthew! Spent a lot more time on this than I expected. Kept thinking I’d figured it out and then new info appeared or I found something

I'm honestly surprised the holes weren't full of dead animals that had accidentally fallen in.

@RMC8403

16 күн бұрын

If one had fallen in, the smell of it would keep the rest away

@thelatemickb6927

16 күн бұрын

Not that much wildlife in coniferous plantation alas.

So glad this popped up seemingly at random.. I'm hooked - fascinating !

Only half way through video, but really fascinated with this history. Well done! Brilliant. Of course you would make it safer and alert someone.🙂

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

😁 thanks! Have dobe

So cool to find old foundations and walls in a forest, just so many questions.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Gary found out the names of the landowners and the people who lived there. Amazing what can be found in libraries. But can’t reveal any of that as gives away the location plus the video would be too long. The first cut was 50minutes!

I'm so impressed by your research into this! And the footage you've recorded. I was quite literally gripped! Well done on a brilliant film 👏 this is excellent

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Sarah! Currently working on another couple of scripts 🙂

Just phenomenal cinematography my friend, captivating and masterfully narrated!

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! looks like I'm going to have to put more effort in from now on 🤣

Got this video in my feed for some reason. I'm glad I watched it. Loved it. I'll be checking out your other videos.

Beautiful history there! Its on our bucket list to spend a month in Ireland exploring

Amazing video, thanks Stephen

Loved this video, so interesting. Hope you’re having fun on your Cairn, mine arrives in the last week in March, can’t wait. As always keep up the exemplary videos 😊😊😊

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! 🙂 was out on the Cairn again today, love it. Great for exploring after days of long runs. Have videos planned too 🙂

This video had my full attention the whole time

Great video, very informative. And well done for fencing it off.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Mark! Hopefully gets a proper fence soon

I had just discovered your channel with that video and it was great. One more subscriber! Cheers from France

I also become fascinated with these types of things that I often feel I am the only one that notices or cares about them. Occasionally I also get to the bottom of them, but I am not a youtube creator, so I never get to share. This is so well done, thank you and again - I can relate to your journey.

Dude, you are a savage. It takes a very strong person to do what you do, alone.

Excellent research. Enjoyed that thank you 😊

Bravo Sir, this is a fascinating follow up video.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!🙂

I think you did good even putting up temporary fencing to help the water service out.

That's brilliant, have wondered this for years . Came across this 3 years ago . Class video

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Hopefully I get official confirmation!

Such a good video Steve! 😊 Love learning a bit of history, even if it’s less fun than a portal to the upside down. 😂

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

🙂😁😁😁 no vecna at the bottlm

The first person with a good metal detector will have some really great great finds .Veritable treasures to some who collect such. Just 1 coin or artifact can tell you when it was possible last occupied . History is there to be uncovered. Best of luck .Great find. Im a new sub.

@youn8e

2 күн бұрын

the Scottish Detectorist in the Bonnie fields of Perthshire 😉‼ John... has a tour guide day job and detects as his very informative hobby💜🙏💜

It's a wonder they're not full of rubbish. Where I live, old mine shafts were frequently used as rubbish dumps years ago.

@StephenJReid

16 күн бұрын

possibly they are, could have been much much deeper originally. Or because they are in remote locations on private land it would be hard to transport stuff to dump in them

Fantastic gripping video. Thank you, et al, for making it. ( I hope that's the correct use of et al)

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Et al are very grateful too 😁

Respect after you put a barrier around the test hole. That’s what helped make my mind up to subscribe. Great job. Interesting video.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for subscribing 🙂 glad you enjoyed the video

I love how Ireland looks like it has got a filter on it to make the greens extra vibrant. This is an interesting video, and the outro music was a lovely surprise.

Wow, what a find and interesting history! I love old ruins and also try to imagine what it was like living there in the past. I thought they might be wells at first. Great work sectioning off the holes, so dangerous even for animals. Loved your video about this 😀

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Not my normal type of video but too good a mystery to pass by, glad people are enjoying it 🙂

@loveexploringscotland

2 ай бұрын

@StephenJReid I've been quite bad in the past for wandering off the trodden path as it's exciting what you can find, but more aware now that there might not be solid ground and really need to be careful 😯

fascinating stuff. thanks for investigating and sharing.

Thank you for sharing this information as it was very interesting to see. We living a world where there is so much history & you just shared some with this Australian. It’s so fascinating to learn & I love to learn history. Once again thank you ♥️♥️

That was absolutely brilliant :) Liked and subbed :) Your presenting and editing style was a joy to watch. I'm definitely a fan :)

Great video mate thank you for doing the research

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Mysterious holes. Thanks for uploading!

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

I thoroughly enjoyed this video! Beautiful country, excellent explanations.

What a great history lesson, thank you.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

You’re welcome!

Brilliant video, just discovered by accident. Good research, too and much appreciated you putting up warning indications at end. House ruins fascinating as well. Looked quite large but definitely in need of more than a touch of pointing and a lick of paint.

Love this format of content mate. Please do more ❤

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Might do!

This makes me think of the Fae folklore that my grandma ( born and raised in Ireland) would tell me about. The other thing is the song, can’t think of the name but it’s like the hole in ground and the trees growing around and around. This is so cool to see.

Totally loved the ending wmsl! Great video Steve😊👍

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thank you 🙂

Great work! You too, Gary!

Brilliant, the mundane reason doesn't matter, just loved the story.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks David 🙂

Fascinating video, thanks for sharing.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thank you 🙂

very impressed by your research and analysis, with some invaluable help from your correspondent, and for securing the perimeter of these dangerous holes. You would think that some sort of heavy duty covers would make the safest solution but that's beside the point. It seems you have nailed it. You have a new subscriber. Thank you.

Very interesting video Stephen, really enjoyed it 👍 well done for putting the markers up 🙌

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Great video and good job for sectioning it off so it's not invisible for others 👍

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Hopefully a fence goes up soon

Fantastic video, one of your most 'historical' for sure. It's amazing but also a bit tragic how the landscape has changed over the centuries. 19th century Ireland was a grim place to be a tenant farmer that's for sure. I remember a few years ago I spotted a oil painting at a local auction house that immediately caught my eye; sure enough on closer inspection it was Silent Valley, but before it was flooded to make the reservoir. It was really interesting being able to have a look into the past like that; I defo regret not bidding on it at the time as it seemed like a great piece of history.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! I’d like to do more videos like this with a documentary feel but maybe not very often as this took 4 different trips and about 5 shoots in various locations. I also re-shot parts several times as we found out more information. I could have made an hour long version. 🙈 The old maps are fascinating for seeing how the landscape has changed and it’s easy to think it was such a long time ago but 200 years is less than 3 average lifetimes.

Totally enjoyed this. Well done.

The story was exciting because you found some history of the test holes. Thank you I enjoyed your video.

Great video and history thank you!

Fascinating stuff. Great film!

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! 🙂

What a awesome video❤ I love exploration videos and yours was intriguing, fun and then you absolutely gained my admiration...you put up those sticks to mark out these extremely deep holes!! ❤ Well l look forward to watching more of your videos while my broken arm heals😅 and wait get out into the Swedish backyard exploring again! Thank you❤

Great job 👏 thanks for sharing ❤

Great video & story telling! I do love how the images 'before' and 'after' on 18:50 are showing how it changed!!

Great video and very fascinating, with the help of your great humour and enthusiasm towards anything you do! Love watching the videos - very entertaining… there was a hole similar to that near me (Pendle) however I know it was a well and it has recently become a well again 😂 great water source for camps though!

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Dan! I suppose for all intents and purposes the holes are now wells. The water in the deeper one looked incredibly clean (before I disturbed it)

Outstanding !

Epic video Stephen. Educational, investigative and fun. Another potential albeit later reason for Mourne Wall?? Well done. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Yeah I think it’s a similar reason the wall was built in the Mournes. I’m guessing it was similar practice all over before modern water treatment was invented.

Absolutely fascinating!!

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Amazing video! I was hooked 💪

Imagine digging those holes by hand

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

I’m sure they at least used spades 🤪

Found this by accident Stephen, but what a find! Fascinating stuff. Many thanks.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! 🙂

Pretty crazy history, fascinating! RE the L.K., map “errors” are sometimes deliberate, as an anti-copyright infringement measure - someone else’s map with the same error is very likely a copy!

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Interesting!

Great film, I like to do a similar thing on all my hikes and research the local history. We miss so much just passing by.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Amazing what you discover by just spending time in an area

Super follow up. Great bit of investigation. Digging those holes would have been quite an achievement.

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Rob 🙂

Fascinating video, great research ! They're crazy deep¡

Getting to solve a mystery, excellent. ❤❤

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Alan!

thanks for doing this video stephen a great wee video well with the watch and thanks for putting the string round it made it a lot easier to spot this time..... are you really watching me !!!?

@StephenJReid

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Gary! I ain’t watching you although I did spot a wildlife camera in the area, so someone is watching!