Ardmore Round Tower Multi-cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A short visit to one of Irelands early monastic sites, the cache is located near the famous Round Tower. It is not within the boundary wall. The co ordinates above are not the cache site.
THE LOCATION The Round Tower in Ardmore was built in the 12th century and is one of the best preserved examples in this country. It tapers to a height of 30metres with its door 4 metres above ground level. In times of attacks, the monks would move their precious books, manuscripts and chalices inside, and pull up the wooden ladder. Within the grounds of the Tower is St Declans Oratory, where the founder of the monastary in Ardmore is reputed to be buried. St Declan is said to have already have been a Christian Bishop in Munster before St Patrick arrived in Ireland, and may be behind the belief that Christianity came to the South East of Ireland first. Ardmore Cathedral is the other large ruined building on the grounds and was first recognised as a catherdral in 1170. It was first constructed by Meolettrim Ó Duibh-ratha and has undergone numerous phases of construction over the centuries. THE CACHE The cache was placed early in the 21st century by Mini-Tap, of the secret order of Geocachers. Unlike Christianity, the news of this latest cache was spread via internet, text messaging and facebook. You are looking for a small tupperware container, with a logsheet, and a few little trinkets. There is no pen provided, so please bring your own ink. The site you are visiting is an important site, historically and spiritually and I will ask that you treat it with the respect it deserves. This cache is not wheelchair friendly, I am sorry, but is family friendly. You might also check out the beautiful cliff walk nearby (cache placed there also). Stage 1 Proceed to N51 56 912 W007 43 590. You will be at a stile. To its left is a plaque on the wall. From this you will see a date mentioned, Sunday 1_th July 1995. Note the missing digit and make this A Stage 2 Onwards and upwards into the site and head to N51 56 911 W007 43 569. You will be at the Tower itself. Walk around the Tower and count the number of illumination lights, They are all located at ground level, about 4 metres from the Towers base. They are in a protective metal cage. Make this figure B Stage 3 Proceed to N51 56 931 W007 43 574. You are at the entrance to the ruin of the Cathedral. There is a cast iron, black painted gate in front of you. Count how many horizontal bars on the gate. Make this answer C. Stage 4 Proceed to N51 56 922 W007 43 538. You are now at St Declans Oratory, where you will see a sign above the door. On it is a little history about the Oratory. Find out in what year did the Bishop of Waterford, Dr Thomas Mills add the slate roof. Take the last 2 digits of the year, and make this answer D Stage 5 Proceed to N51 56 891 W007 43 523. You are now at a corner of the graveyard, where a memorial to the crew of the S.S Ary, a steamer that sank off Ardmore in 1947 lies. It is an interesting piece of local history. The captain of this ship was an Edward Kolk, from the Estonian capital, Tallinn. What age was he when he went down with his ship. Make this answer E You now have all the information required. Proceed to N51........... well, not without the formula. N51 56 ((E*D)+D+1 W007 43 ((E+D)*C+(A*B)+6) Note *=multiply (to avoid confusion) Note 2 About 2 metres from GZ, there is a bit of barbed wire, (take this as a small clue). Just take care with it please. Have fun Mini-Tap..out
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
cbfg naq fvta