[5] According to the Annals of Clonmacnois, Keating and the Lebor Gabála Érenn (LGE), Deala (or Dela) Mac Lóich was the father of the five chieftains of the returning Fir Bolg (Slainghe, Gann, Genann, Seangann, and Rudhraighe), who conquered Ireland and divided it into five provinces, each ruled by one brother.

[6] According to the Annals of the Four Masters, the Fir Bolg ruled Ireland for 37 years from 3266 to 3303 BCE,[7] but were themselves defeated by the returning Tuatha Dé Danann.

The Gap of Dunloe was formed 25,000 years ago during Ireland's last ice age as a result of a "glacial breach" where a glacier in the Black Valley, part of the Templenoe Icecap, estimated to be over 500 metres deep, broke through the Head of the Gap and moved northwards carving out a U-shaped valley.

[22][23][24] There are only two crags on the east side of the valley, namely Céim and Bothán, with most of the crags being in the north-west side of the valley, near Brennan's Leap (the cliff at the western shore of Coosaun Lough) / the Wishing Bridge (the stone bridge between Coosaun Lough and Black Lake).

[26] The Gap was ranked as one of the "top 5 areas" for bouldering in Ireland,[27] including The Main Face crag, with grades of up to 7b.