sea-stack at downpatrick head EarthCache
sea-stack at downpatrick head
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a short walk from the parking area to a great view of a sea-stack
off downpatrick head in county mayo, ireland. parking at: n.54
19.377 w.009 20.755
an earthcache is a virtual cache, there is no container hidden,
instead, you arrive at the location, answer questions listed on the
cache page under "logging requirements" and email them to the cache
owner. In this case please send an email to mark cooper by using
the following email address and replace the "?" with "@".
markgcooper?.com, thanks!
Dun Briste, an impressive sea-stack, estimated to be approximately
50 metres in height, stands 80 metres off Downpatrick Head, in the
town-land of Knockaun, east of Ballycastle, Co. Mayo. The cliffs in
the area, including the stack, were formed in the Lower
Carboniferous period, a geological term applied to a time c. 350
million years ago, when the sea temperatures around Ireland were
much higher than today. On the adjoining Downpatrick headland,
several archaeological monuments may be seen, and these range in
type from Bronze-Age ring-barrows, early ecclesiastical sites, the
remains of a promontory fort, to a more modern coastguard
'watch-house' of W.W.2 vintage.
along the walk out to the view of the sea-stack from the parking
area you will pass by two fenced areas.
the first fenced area is at: n. 54.19.422 w.009 20.816. at this
point make an obeservation of how the ocean is changing the ground
you are standing on.
the second fenced area is located at: n.54 19.519 w.009
20.809.
look down into the center and observe the action of the waves.
proceed to the final location for viewing the the sea-stack at
n54.19.606 w.009.20.877.
logging requirement:
1a. based on your observations of the two fenced areas, take a
guess as to how the sea-stack was formed and send me an email using
my profile.
1b. (optional) post a photo of your group clearly showing your gps
with the sea-stack behind you.
interesting fact: Some years ago, a helicopter landed several
people on the stack; they were the first humans to set foot there
for centuries. The party included Dr. Seamus Caulfield and his late
father Padraig Caulfield, NT.; Fr. Declan Caulfield, R.I.P.; Noel
Dunne, archaeologist; and Prof. Martin Downes, formerly of
Castlebar. They camped there overnight and surveyed the surface
where they found the remains of a medieval house, cultivation
ridges, walls, and a broken quern stone (a stone used for grinding
corn). A camera crew recorded the event and a documentary was
broadcast on R.T.E. television some time later.
Please begin your e-mail with the name of the earthcache and
make sure your log includes the geocaching names and the number of
people in your group.
Additional Hints
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