Malin Head
Malin Head Co. Donegal is the most Northerly point of Ireland. The tip of Malin Head is also known as Banba's Crown, named after Banba a mythical Irish Queen from Tuatha Dé Danann and a patron goddess of Ireland.
During World War II Malin Head was an important location for Allied pilots trying to return to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in particular. Ireland maintained a neutral status during World War II and Malin Head was an important navigational aid for pilots trying to orientate their approach to Northern Ireland and also wishing to avoid a landing in the Republic of Ireland and potential internment for the remainder of the war.
In recent years Malin Head is known as either a start or finish point to cyclists and walkers completing the Mizen to Malin or Malin to Mizen routes (Malin to Mizen) traversing Ireland from the most Northerly to the most Southerly point. It is especially popular with cyclists with records held for the route in either direction or even a return trip.
Malin Head is now know as the Northern end of the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW), a 2,500km tourist route located mostly on the West Coast of Ireland (Wild Atlantic Way).
Most recently Malin Head has become known worldwide as one of the filming sites for Star Wars: The Last Jedi resulting in a massive increase in visitors to the area and a much needed upgrade to the visitor facilities.
Cache Task
During 1942 a number of large white signs were constructed on the coast of Ireland to help Allied pilots identify where they were, to safely return to the United Kingdom and to avoid accidentally landing in the Republic of Ireland. These signs were constructed of white stones stating EIRE and a designated number referencing the nearby lookout station. Malin Head was station 80.
Many of these signs were falling into a state of disrepair but Malin Head was selected to receive restoration in the last few years and the sign is now proudly visible and accessible to visitors to the site.
To claim this cache you need to do the following:
- Go to the listed coordinates, where the sign is located.
- Take a photo like the one below, with the sign in the background. You don't need to show your face if you don't want to.
- Log your find - and attach your photo TO THE LOG.
- DON'T send your photo to me via the message centre.
- If you are part of a group, the individual posting the group photo must also post the Geocaching Usernames of those in the photo to their log.
- Logs without a photo or with a photo taken in the wrong location will be deleted.
- If you are disabled or have mobility issues and are unable to access the location I will accept photos taken from the nearby lookout station with the sign in the background. (Please note: Laziness and/or weather conditions do not count!)
- Only visits and photos taken after the publication of this listing will be counted
More information on the EIRE signs, their locations and history can be found here: eiremarkings.org
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.