Howe Strand Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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A lesser known beach and valley filled with history and beautiful rugged views of the West Cork coastline.
The cache is a small black capsule.BYOP.
As usual, the cache is NOT in or near the dry stone wall so leave it alone please.
The strand is named for the Howe family, local landowners from Cromwellian times. Guy’s Postal Directory of 1914 lists Howe owners of Killeens House and Glanavirane House; the latter is still occupied by a Howe family today. A stream crosses the beach, fed by the reed beds behind. The beach is little frequented except in summer. Walking down the right hand side of the beach, we look across at the huge, gaunt ruin on the left (eastern) side. This was the Howe Strand Coastguard and Telegraph Station burnt by the IRA in 1920. According to the witness statement made to the Irish Bureau Of Military History by John O’Driscoll, captain of the Timoleague Company Irish Volunteers, the station was first attacked by Timoleague Volunteers in April 1920. The seven coastguards present surrendered and seven rifles were seized. Later that year, 18 volunteers from the Bandon Battalion, supported by 24 men blocking the approach roads, attacked the station again. The 15 coastguards manning the station surrendered after a brief fight. Fifteen rifles and 1,000 rounds of ammunition were captured. The station was burnt and was subsequently abandoned by the Coastguard. The rocks on the right hand side of the strand are deeply grooved by the passage of cartwheels. Over decades, possibly over centuries, farmers drove their carts over the bedrock to collect oarweed to fertilise their land. The building seen at the headland is the ruin of a boat house that served the Coastguard Station.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Onpx gb qel ynaq......