Dunbrody Abbey Traditional Geocache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
An Impressive abbey in a quiet part of Wexford
Dunbrody Abbey was founded in 1170 on the instructions of
Strongbow, by Herve de Montmorency (his uncle), after the Norman
invasion of Ireland. It was completed circa 1220, but additions may
have continued for some time. Herve de Montmorency made a grant of
the lands to the monks of Bildewas in Shropshire (England), on
condition that they should build the Abbey, for some monks of the
Cistercian, or White Order (they wore white robes), and upon
condition that there should be a Sanctuary in the Abbey for all
malefactors. Dedicated to "St. Mary the ever Blessed Virgin, and
St. Benedict" it has sometimes been called the Abbey of St. Mary de
Port, for the refuge it contained by the express condition of its
founder.
Herve de Montmorency became the first Abbot of Dunbrody and died
there in 1205, at the age of 75, and was buried in the Abbey. The
Abbey flourished for several centuries, but not without certain
problems. In 1355, the Abbot and his monks appear to have taken to
the Highway line of business, for it is said that William de Ross,
Abbot of Dunbrody, and Adam and Hugh Barry, monks, were indicted
for imprisoning one Thomas Herlyn, a monk of Tintern, and stealing
two of his horses to the value of forty shillings. Also they
expelled Thomas de Wiggemore, Abbot of Tintern, and robbed him of
three horses to the value of eight marks. They were acquitted,
perhaps fortunately.
The Abbey's demise started when Alexander Devereux, the last Abbot
of Dunbrody, granted to the King, his heirs and successors, the
Abbey and all its possessions circa 1542. Alexander Devereux
changed religion, and became the Bishop of Ferns. The lands and
Abbey then came into the possession of the Etchingham family. In
1642, Jane Etchingham, the heiress, married the second Earl of
Donegall, whose descendants (Chichester family) own the lands to
this day. It was handed over by the Chichester family to the Office
of Public Works in 1911, and is maintained to the standards you see
today by them.
Along with the historic Abbey, the nearby visitors' centre has Tea
Rooms and a Craft Shop for those wishing to relax, as well as the
Maze/Pitch & Putt for the more actively minded. There is a
small admission charge (approx 2 euro) to the abbey, which is well
worth visiting, but you will not need to pay this to find the
cache.
Source -
The official
web site
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
euf bs cvyr bs obhyqref; erne