Dundalk For Dummies - Cúchulainn's Castle Traditional Cache
Dundalk For Dummies - Cúchulainn's Castle
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This cache brings the finder to Cúchulainn's Castle (also known as Castletown Mount) on the outskirts of the town of Dundalk
Cuchulainn was, of course, the great hero of Irish legend but isn’t regarded as an historical figure. Yes, the stories are probably based on a brave warrior but his exploits have become greatly exaggerated. If he did exist, Castletown could claim to have played a significant part in his life. Fiction: He was born and reared at Dun Dealgan, the home of his parents. In his youth he was known as Setanta and hunted and played hurling in the vicinity of the Dun. He is said to have killed a giant water-serpent in the Castletown River. He gave a great Halloween banquet at the Dun for his people. The Dun was the base from which he attacked the armies of Queen Maeve on their way to Cooley. The tragic fight between Cuchulainn and his own son Connlaoch took place between the Dun and the river. The standing stone beside the Dun marks the grave of Cuchulainn and his wife Emer. Conall Cearnach avenged his death by setting the heads of his slain enemies on poles around the Dun. Fact He didn’t, of course, build what is known as “Cuchulainn’s Castle” on top of the Dun; that was the work of Pirate Byrne in the 18th century. It wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that the use of the name “Cuchulainn’s Castle” became commonplace; prior to that it was known simply as Castletown Mount. In the campaign to acquire the site for a museum, the local committee emphasised the Cuchulainn connections with the area by giving the Dun that name. In 1911, during the opening ceremonies at the museum, the story of the coming of Cuchulainn and Emer was enacted in the form of a pageant.
Castletown's Own Pirate!
Patrick “Pirate” Byrne was one of the great 18th century personalities of Castletown. He lived at Saltown in a fine house with walled gardens on the banks of the river where he ran a salt manufacturing business. It would seem that he wasn’t a real “pirate”, but earned the title as a result of freetrading and smuggling activities. There was a small quay at Saltown and this would have been used for “importing” fine wines, linen, etc. without paying excise duties. His great wealth would have been common knowledge and in 1780 seven robbers armed with pistols entered Saltown and demanded his keys and money. Patrick had the guile to give them the keys to his cellar and they proceeded to attempt to drink the contents. The militia were sent for and the drunken intruders arrested. At that time burglary was a capital offence and the seven were hanged at Gallows Hill in Dundalk, where the Garda Station is presently situated. In the same year he constructed a house on Castletown Mount for his nephew, “Patrick Byrne of Seatown”. A straight road ran from Saltown directly to the Mount following the N side of the graveyard. It has been suggested that this construction was intended as a display of wealth or one-upmanship. Situated on the most prominent site in the area it would have overlooked Dundalk House and the demesne of James Hamilton in the town below. Byrne was typical of the rising Catholic middle-class at this time of economic prosperity under Grattan’s Parliament. It may not have been used by the Byrnes as a family home but rather as a summer residence and was sometimes referred to as “Byrne’s Folly”. Patrick Byrne died in 1791 and is buried in a very distinctive tomb in Castletown graveyard.
The cache,
Given that there have been caches here before and muggling was an issue, this cache is a micro container
The GPS was jumping a little when placed but the clue should be useful if you're struggling
The terrain rating reflects the fact that there is a steep slope at GZ. Great care should be exercised particularly with younger cachers
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
gb gur evtug bs gur yrsg (jvgu lbhe onpx gb gur gbjre)
Treasures
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