The History
In medieval times the city had always been badly served for safe drinking water, in the summer the few wells dried up, in winter heavy rain and sewage contaminated them. Most user river water for drinking.
By October 1842 less than 10% of houses had a water supply. By then the water works on the Lee Rd ensured there was a regular supply of water and by 1860 there were 100 fountains and fonts around the city.
But the public fountains were over-crowded and punch-ups, general disorder and even soliciting were a regular feature of city life.
In (rare) hot spells, the fountains ran dry, and in wet periods the engorged river could deposit raw sewage into them.
In the light of this, it is no wonder that some chose to drink beer or spirits, and the city's five 19th century breweries and eight distilleries were no doubt happy to have their custom.
Fr. Theobold Mathew's, a priest and sometime yoyo-ist contended that until a plentiful, pure and reliable supply of water was available to all, it would be difficult to wean people off the drink. In this he was not alone, and the Total Abstinance Society that he founded had parallels over much of the English-speaking world at the time.
In Cork, apart from the eventual opening of our city's first reliable water supply in 1858, the activities of Fr. Mathew are reflected in the remains of seven early drinking fonts and four cattle troughs. None are supplied with water currently.
The Fountains
1, 2, 3. Near University College Cork's Mardyke sports Centre, a similar one on Georges Quay and a more ornate example on Lancaster Quay
4. Restoration of the courthouse was completed in 2005 and included the renewal of 2 drinking fonts
5. Flanks of Fr Matthew statue at north end of Patrick st. He led the nation wide crusade for temperance, also had a distinguished role in the 1832 cholera epidemic. Fittingly then, his memorial, erected in 1864 included 2 water fonts in the shape of exotic shells. Carved from limestone, marble and pink granite complete with cups on chains. Rings which held the cups and some plumbing is still in place but the fonts no longer work.
6. The Berwick Fountain stands on the Grand Parade and was built in 1860. It is named after Sergeant Walter Berwick who came to Cork in 1847 as Chairman of the Quarter Sessions court. This court was a quarterly county court which dealt with minor criminal offences. Berwick was a very popular justice, very well thought of in the city and county. When he was made a judge of the bankruptcy court in 1859 he received congratulations and well wishes from many sections of Cork society. Moved by the tributes he decided to present the city with an ornamental fountain.
7. The English market opened in 1862 and when complete would contain a fountain. Cast iron and limestone by WR Harris. From the pedestal upward the column features water lovingly vegetated, each tier is a lily or rhubarb leaf with herons encircling the base.
8. Not a fountain but a trough by Seamus Murphy 1907-1975, easily Corks best known sculptor from the 20th century. Generally overlooked and set into a shop front at 124 St Patrick's St, a little limestone trough commissioned in 1950 by Mr Knolley Stokes, owner of the Old Bridge Restaurant. A dog owner, he arranged for staff to clean and fill it each morning, it has Madrai carved into it. When sold in the 1970s the trough became the property of Cork Corporation, but no one fills it
The Cache
This requires you to visit 6 of these fountains and collect information which will lead you to the final coordinates. It is just over one kilometre from start to end
Stage 1 - The posted coords - Father Matthew's Statue
Count the number of footlights on the ground in front of this statue. Call this A
Stage 2 - Madrai drinking trough
On the roadside near here there is a sign for City Walks St Patrick Street - north.
In which year was the first St Patrick's Bridge built? Call this 17BC
Stage 3 - The English Market
The coords for this stage take you to the Princes St entrance. Enter here and you will find the Fountain ahead of you
Count the number of big blue herons on the first tier of the fountain. If you intend to do this cache when the market is closed, it is possible to get this number if you google the right thing. Call this D
Stage 4 - Berwick Fountain
How many lights are there in the fountain? X2 Call this E
Stage 5 - The Courthouse
There are two fountains here, one either side of the portico. On the ceiling of the portico are two rows of squares, how many squares in each row? Call this F
Stage 6 - Lancaster Quay
You can see the fountain here, in the corner by the railings, it isn't as ornate or prominent as the others. There is a set of traffic lights here and on the pavement next to them are two square hole covers, one large and one smaller, both baring the same information. Look for the phone number. Call this G117 9861H66
The Final
Work out the following equation to find the cache
N51 5D.EGA W008 2B.CFH