Templars and Masons Traditional Geocache
Taisce: Can’t get near it at the moment
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Located in the grounds of Charleville Castle, Tullamore. A lovely place for a walk, surrounded by ancient oak forests as well as younger reforestations and a majestic oak-tree in the grounds is reputed to be the oldest in the World at 700 years old. It is also possible to take a tour of the castle for a small fee.
The parking co-ordinates I have given are at the main gate to the estate. Follow your GPS the rest of the way(Keep going straight) As you are walking up, you will see the huge old oak on your right. Sadly it was hit by lightning in 1963, which split its trunk. However, it continues to flourish!
If it's lashing rain, or you're just feeling plain lazy, you can drive up to the castle, just be very aware as it's a popular walking spot for families and people with dogs. Oh yes, and the speed bumps are very hard to see and will take the bottom off your car!
The cache is a small one, with enough room for a little TB.
It contains a logbook and pencil, little sewing kit, an eraser, a GC keyring, 2 tiny compasses and a mulit-coloured pen. The FTF is in the bag with the cache (it's too big to fit in the box)
If you see the owners or the caretakers, be sure to have a chat. They are full of the most fascinating information about this place :)
Happy hunting!
Charleville Castle is located in the centre of Ireland, bordering the town of Tullamore. The castle is situated in Ireland’s most ancient primordial oak woods, once the haunting grounds of Ireland’s druids. In the sixth century it was part of the ancient monastic site of Lynally, which itself was in the ancient Durrow monastic settlement.
By the mid-fifteen hundreds, the Moore’s were securely "planted". From this point on a dynasty was established which endured into the late nineteenth century.
Chareville Castle grew from paper doodles in early 1798 to grandiose plans by the end of that very eventful year in Ireland. It owes its "Tin Soldier Fortress" look to the celebration of victory over the third French revolutionary expedition to Ireland - the first decisive victory by Britain (Cornwallis in fact) over the revolutionary republican movement, which was sweeping across the monarchies and their colonies at that time. It took fourteen long years to complete this great gothic dream, a monument not only to a now forgotten power, but also to the people who made it possible, the Irish craftsmen and impoverished people. It is today Ireland's most important example of gothic revival architecture - the leader of the Francis Johnston School of Architecture - his masterpiece. Its restoration is now on-going.
The castle remained uninhabited from 1912, during the difficult years of the independence war, and the long years of economic severity which followed. By 1968 the roof had been removed. It had become a part of "Vanishing Ireland" until finally work on its restoration was commenced by Michael McMullen in 1971 and later by Constance Heavey Seaquist and Bonnie Vance. A Charitable Trust has been formed to help with the restoration and today it has become the meeting place for people from all walks of life and different places. Stories long and short abound and mysterious happenings fill the fire-lit evenings. This place has featured on most haunted!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Unir n frng naq erynk