On the N15 from Sligo to Donegal take any of the two or three
sign-posted left turns to Mullaghmore after the village of
Cliffoney. Turn left at the Classiebawn Gatehouse (N 54 27.454 W 8
27.368) to the cache site. While there is no designated parking
area I would suggest pulling in at (N54 27.689 W8 27.856), taking
care of other cars.
Welcome to Mullaghmore Head!
For centuries the contested territory of O'Conor Sligoe and the
O'Donnell's of Tirconaill, Mullaghmore is now a tourist haven. The
village of Mullaghmore lies to the east, sheltered from the
Atlantic weather which shaped the cliffs to the west of the
peninsula. South of the village lies a exceptionally pretty sandy
beach.
To the south of the cache site lies Classiebawn Castle against
the back drop of Ben Bulben. It is constructed of Mountcharles
sandstone, from a small village on the opposite side of the bay to
the north. Lord Palmerston, who served two terms as Prime Minister
of England, began building Classiebawn in the 19th century. Upon
his death in 1865 completion of the project passed to his
successor, the First Lord Mount Temple, who finished the building
in 1874.
Ownership of Classiebawn passed from Temple to the Ashley's.
Edwina Ashley married Lord Louis Mountbatten, great grandson of
Queen Victoria, (...uncle to Prince Philip, retired Admiral of the
Fleet, one time Commander of Allied Forces in Southeast Asia, last
Viceroy of India, First Sea Lord and Earl of Burma...) As tensions
built in the North concerns for Mountbatten's safety grew, though
he refused an increased security presence. In August 1979 his boat,
Shadow V, was blown up off the coast of Mullaghmore. He died with
his grandson Nicholas, Lady Brabourne and Captain Paul Maxwell. The
IRA admitted responsibility for the assassination. The castle and
estate are now in the private hands of the first Irish owner of
since the 17th century.
Palmerston is also responsible for the beautiful stone harbour
at the village of Mullaghmore. Work on the harbour began in 1822
under the direction of Alexander Nimmo, the engineer who built the
famous Nimmo's Pier in Galway. Though the harbour was completed in
1841, expansion and improvement continues to this day.
To the north, on the opposite side of the bay, you can see the
spectacular sea-cliffs of Slieve League, in Donegal. Rising 601
metres over the Atlantic Ocean, Slieve League is almost three times
taller than more famous Cliffs of Moher; and more untouched.
Straight ahead, four miles off the coast, you can see the island
of Inishmurray. The island was inhabited until 1957, when the
entire population of between 50 and 100 people moved to the
mainland. Their village remains in ruins on the south side of the
island. A Christian Monastery, founded by St Molaise in the 6th
century, is one of the most intact sites in Ireland today.
Inishmurray is shrouded in mystery and legend. The largest altar
in St Molaise's Monastery is known as Clocha Breacha, or the
Cursing Stone, used by villages to punish those who angered them.
It is also to St. Molaise on Mullaghmore that Colmcille went to
confess his sins following the bloody "Battle of the Books"; a
dispute which began when Colmcille copied a book belonging to St.
Finian, resulting in Colmcille's banishment to Iona. The island is
now a wildlife sanctuary and favourite spot for bird-watchers.
The Cahce
The cache is a simple lunch box. At time of hiding it contained
a log book, pencil and a few trade items. Please trade only up or
even. Please replace the stones carefully, as this is a Muggle
hotspot!
From the parking spot there is access down the cliffs to a
picturesque inlet. If you are going down try to take a plastic bag
and cache in/trash out as unfortunately it seems a lot of rubbish
washes up to shore at this beautiful spot.
WARNING: The area is prone to landslides. Please take
care.