The Importance of Being Wilde Multi-Cache
The Importance of Being Wilde
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Irish writer Oscar Wilde is best known for the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray and the play The Importance of Being Earnest. His father, William Wilde, was an acclaimed doctor who was knighted for his work as medical advisor for the Irish censuses. They both had colourful personal lives too! The final location is available at all times, but Merrion Square and Trinity College are not. I've provided opening information - but these could change.
The Stages can be visited in any order. I hope you enjoy your stroll around Dublin, and through Trinity College!
Stage 1 The Eye and Ear
The starting coordinates bring you to the entrance gate of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital. In 1844 Sir William founded his own hospital, St Mark's Ophthalmic Hospital for Diseases of the Eye and Ear. To allow for expansion St. Mark’s was amalgamated with the National Eye hospital and both hospitals were moved to this newly built Victorian building on Adelaide Road in 1904.
Look for a rectangular manhole cover with the word Traffic in the middle. Look for the surname at the top of the manhole cover.
A = Number of letters in the surname
Stage 2 Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI)
Sir William obtained his Medical Degree here.
Look at the railings. There are a few identical signs about bicycles. What is the 6th word?
B = Number of letters in the 6th word.
Stage 3 St. Ann's Church
In the baptismal records of St. Ann’s, Dawson St, an entry from 1854 reads Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde. However, Oscar wasn't baptised here - he was baptised in St Mark's in a neighbouring parish - but the records were moved here when St. Mark's closed.
As you face the church, look to your right, where you will see St. Ann's House. How many steps must be climbed to reach the metal gate?
C = Number of steps
Stage 4 Trinity College Front Arch
(Front Gate is open 0700-0000 weekdays, 0800-1800 weekends and bank holidays)
Trinity College is over 400 years old and has many famous Alumni including Nobel Prize winners, Writers, Politicians and Business people. Oscar attended Trinity College from 1871 to 1874. In 1872, he placed first in the school's classics examination and received the college's Foundation Scholarship, the highest honour awarded to undergraduates.
Stand inside the arch surrounded by the Notice Boards of many college clubs and societies. Look at the surface you are standing on. How many sides are on each 'piece'?
D = Number of sides on each piece
Stage 5 Library Square
Library Square has changed very little since Oscar was a student here. Turn to face the Campanile which was built in 1853. The Rubrics (behind you) is the oldest building in Trinity (c. 1700). The Old Library (to your left) was finished in 1732. (The GMB, on your right didn't open until 1902, so was not here when Oscar attended. It replaced Rotten Row which was similar to The Rubrics.) Front Square (between the Campanile and Front Arch) has also changed very little since Oscar attended.
The grass of Library Square is surrounded by a decorative post and chain fence. How many lampposts are included in the fence?
E = Number of Lampposts
Stage 6 Oscar Wilde Memorial Sculpture
(The park opens at 1000, and closes before dark. Closing times are in the gallery)
The sculpture is located in Merrion Square Park, across the road from his former family home. Sit on the benches and admire the statue. How many pieces of wood make up the seat of each bench?
F = Number pieces of wood on each bench seat
Stage 7 The American College
Number 1 Merrion Square was the Wilde family home from 1855. At that time it was the oldest and most fashionable side of the square. There are plaques on the building commemorating Sir William and Oscar. On the front of the building, look up at the balcony on the first floor and the old street sign on the wall. The street name is written in Irish and English. How many letters are in the Irish name?
G = Number of letters in the Irish street name
Stage 8 St. Mark's
This is where Oscar was baptised. St. Mark's was an Anglican church then. It has been a Pentecostal church since 1987.
Look at the railway bridge that crosses above the road. There is a circular sign on it with the bridge clearance heights displayed in imperial and metric measurements. What is the last digit on the sign?
H = Last digit on bridge sign
The cache can be found at N53 (G+E-F) (F)(D)(B+A-F) W006 (A+C) (A-E)(C-D)(G-E-H)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zntargvp. Oyhr. Ybj.