[August 26th 2017] Please note that this cache has recently been re-hidden for me. I am unsure how accurate the re-hide was as my assistant didn't use a GPSr - just memory. If you struggle (the cache is in the field boundary between the wooded area and the hedge), spread your search and please contact me with revised hints/coordinates if you think they no longer reflect the current description - I'm most appreciate your help as I can no longer manage these caches personally.
This cache marks the end of the memorial walk and has been placed nearby the largest 1798 memorial in Ireland (and indeed the world).
The monument is named Tulach a' tSolais, which translates to Mound of Light and consists of two concrete columns surrounded by earthwork. Inside, the columns open into a rectangular chamber with incredible acoustic properties.
The Battle of Oulart Hill took place at this very location on 27 May 1798 when a rebel gathering of 1,000 annihilated a detachment of militia sent from Wexford town to stamp out the spreading rebellion in county Wexford.
The Battle
The North Cork Militia reached the village of Oulart on the afternoon of the 27th having refreshed themselves on the way by sacking a suspect’s public house and drinking the contents. Finding a mass of 1,000 rebels occupying the high ground of Oulart hill, they proceeded to burn cabins at the foot of the hill in an attempt to lure down the rebels. The ruse failed but the nervousness of the poorly armed rebels, among whom there were many women and children, was clearly visible with numbers of them slipping away from the impending confrontation. The rebel leaders desperately tried to stem the tide but had little success until the yeomen cavalry were seen moving to positions to cut off this escape route, which had the effect of stemming the tide of desertions.
The militia then confidently advanced up the hill without waiting for artillery support, contrary to orders according to one of the few survivors, the militia leader, Colonel Foote. Unknown to the militia, the rebels had prepared an ambush line at right angles to their position on the hill and placed those of their number with guns at the front of their positions. The militia advanced and fired a couple of loose volleys but the rebels held their positions until the soldiers reached killing range, then pouring concentrated gunfire upon the soldiers. The rebels then unleashed a ferocious charge on the surviving militiamen who were quickly overwhelmed and pursued for miles across the surrounding countryside, only four of them escaping to the temporary safety of Wexford. The supporting yeomen cavalry fled after losing one of their number to rebel gunfire.
Following this victory, in which the rebels lost only six of their number, almost all of North Wexford joined the rebellion and Crown forces and loyalists civilians ceded control of the countryside, withdrawing to towns such as Enniscorthy, Gorey and Wexford.
The cache
Being the final cache in the series, this is larger than any of the previous caches and should hopefully be relatively easy to find. Enough room for some of those bigger travelling items you occasionally find yourself in possession of...
Description of the battle taken and modified from Wikipedia.