Tullow Church Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Cuilcagh: The cache owner is not responding to issues with this geocache, so I must regretfully archive it.

Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.

Cuilcagh - Community Volunteer Reviewer for Geocaching HQ (Ireland)

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Hidden : 9/26/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

A simple cache located in the Churchyard in Tullow, Co. Carlow

St. Columba's Church, Tullow is located at Church Street just off the Market Square and serves what is probably one of the oldest Church of Ireland parishes in Ireland. It stands on the site of the original Tullow Castle.The present church building is the third of three buildings to stand on this site. The original building dated circa 1530's and was knocked down in 1737 to allow a new building to be erected. The present church was built in 1830/31 at a cost of £1,669.
The English Reformation began with Henry VIII's Act of Supremacy but the Reformation was not to reach Ireland, effectively only the Pale, until the late 1530's and early 1540's when Archbishop Browne was appointed to speed up the Reformation changes in Ireland. St. Columba's Parish, although outside the effective control of the Pale became a "Protestant" Church as early as 1538 when Rev. Thomas Clinche was appointed its first Rector.
Of particular note on the south side of the graveyard is a plain altar tomb bearing the emblems of the Passion which is now almost impossible to read. The inscription in Latin by the sculptor Murtagh Murray reads: "Here lies Edmund son of Charles (or Cathal) Byrne; I once was earth, I am earth again," dated 1625. Another stone slab under the East Window of similar design was erected in 1626 recording the death of Walter Motly's wife Johan. This stone was also carved by Murray. Both stones carry a five armed cross with fleur-de-lys terminals, interlaced with two circles. Walter Motly was the son of Thomas Motly of Athy and married Johan Wise of Carlow. Johan bore four sons and six daughters. He died in January 1638. No other tomb stone exists in the graveyard dated before 1741.
Local tradition tells of an underground passage starting in the graveyard leading to St. Austin's Abbey, situated south of the River Slaney. This passage was used to avoid paying taxes on market day on entering the town as in Medieval times Churches and Abbeys were places of sanctuary and neither were taxable. The second connection with the St. Austin's Abbey is this 11th century granite stone baptismal font which is now sited in the grounds of St. Columba's Church.

The cache is in the churchyard, and has the permission of the church authorities.

Parking is available in the supermarket next door

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

lbh be rjr be........

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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