Welcome to the Multy Multicache, put together to show off this amazing establishment here in Multyfarnham. The Friars have just (as of 2018) celebrated their 750th anniversary. The cache is not at the posted location, at the bottom of the discription you'll find all the problems to solve and find the cache location, enjoy.
Please remember that this is a working church, and there are masses held at regular times. I've posted a timetable below. Also the church is open roughly 9-6 all week, but it is up to the Friars when its open (I've never seen it closed but...) You should have a look around inside, but there are clues inside for the coordinates.
Also the Way Of The Cross is very impressive and, as you'll see below, has been here since 1942.
There is parking right out in front of the Friary and there is also a car park in the waypoints. The Log is accessible 24/7 but you'll need to see inside the church to find it.
I know you will all be respectful but I just want to have it said : No matter what your faith is or isn't, this is a very important Catholic site for a lot of people and should be treated as so, please be respectful to the place and people who use it. Thank you
Multyfarnham Franciscan Friary is the only church in the midlands which continues to function as a Catholic church for over 750 years, as of 2018.
This ancient building has had a turbulent history until its present restoration began in 1973.
Franciscan friars seem to have arrived in the area around 1238 at the invitation of some Norman families. The Abbey, built between 1270 and 1306 by William Delamer, continues to serve its ancient purpose. The friars today serve the spiritual and pastoral needs of the people both locally and beyond the confines of Co. Westmeath.
The Abbey church continues to be a place of public worship, quiet prayer to this day.
In 1590 a party of military raided the Abbey and arrested five friars, three of whom died in captivity. Again in 1601 on October 3rd, the eve of St. Francis’ Day, the church and friary were burned; six friars were arrested and incarcerated in the castle of Ballymore, twenty miles away.
Strangely, some friars escaped and returned within three months and started to restore the gutted buildings. In 1604 the friary was again raided and burned. Four friars were captured and two escaped who quickly returned to continue the work of restoration. For the next twenty years, raids continued, friars were arrested and imprisoned. This period was described by the friar historian, living at that time, Donagh Mooney, as ‘a theatre of persecution’.
In 1646, a visitor to the Abbey recorded the presence of thirty friars, including novices. However this first half of the 1600s ended tragically when in 1651 ‘the friars of Multyfarnham were all scattered’. The friars all left after the Cromwellian onslaught but continued to live at Knightswood, a mile from the friary, until they were expelled from there in 1698. Religious life went on however as they lived in a thatched cottage, very near the ruined Abbey until around 1830.
The church was partially restored in 1827 as we see from the plaque in the south wall of Our Lady’s chapel. Afterwards Fr Anselm Conway, Guardian, built a solid three storey friary in 1839 and the friars returned from the cottage on the western side of the river Gaine, where they had lived for 125 years.
The amazing 'Way of the Cross' was completed on both sides of the river Gaine in the Abbey grounds in 1942.
The friary church as we see it now, was newly restored, starting in October 1973.
Points of interest:
* The central altar and beyond the tower arch, the Blessed Sacrament chapel with the striking stained glass window in the background.
* The tabernacle, focal point of the chapel, represents, in copper, a stalk of wheat with the ripening ear, designed and executed by David King. Surrounding the tabernacle is a millstone from the bank of the river Drowes, used for years to grind corn for the farmers of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal. The four limestone columns originally belonged to the Nugent family of Donore, always staunch defenders of the friars here.
* The stained glass window catches some of the history of the Abbey: the burning of the friary in 1601; a Franciscan priest in brown habit offering Mass in the open, surrounded by the faithful; rays from the Host shine on the friar scribe on the left and the friar preacher on the right. The Spirit shines down on the Eucharistic words: ‘Hoc est Corpus Meum’ – ‘This is My Body’. The window, made from hand-made glass, is the work of David King.
* The four windows of the chapel depict the story of the Children of Lir, a story which bridges the transition between the old Celtic religion and the new Christian faith. The story is about the four children of Lir, who were changed into four swans by their cruel step-mother, jealous of their father’s love for his children. According to the legend, the four swans spent 900 years on three waters: Lake Derravaragh beside us here, the waters between Ireland and Scotland and the waters off Mayo in the Atlantic ocean. Here the children were rescued and baptised by a hermit Macaomhóg off Inis Gluaire, in the bay of Erris.
* St. Anthony’s shrine was recently re-designed with a new statue of the saint, executed by Fr. Joe Walsh, who also executed the modern statue of St. Francis in the second recess in the Lady chapel.
* In the first recess of the Lady chapel is a traditional Irish image of Mary carved from Nigerian wood by Desmond Warren. The colouring of the statue was done in the classic monastic style of the 14th century by Fergal O’Farrell.
* Notice also the four ceramic plaques in the church, honouring St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Oliver Plunkett and the Venerable Matt Talbot, designed and executed by Mrs Chris Kelly.
MASS TIMES:
- Sunday: Saturday 7.00pm,
- Sunday 10.30 am
- Weekdays:
- Monday to Friday: 7.30 am.
- Saturday: 9.00am.
**********************************************************************
Coordinates for the cache
N 53° AB.CDE
AB - At 'The Way Of The Cross' the total number of human figures in the stations numbered 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.
C - The only solid structure in the 'Fairy Garden' has a 3 digit number on the side. Add the 3 numbers together and add the number of figures that are standing in station 13.
D - Follow the boardwalk through the fairy garden to the "Laudato Sí Garden" count the number of stones in the stone circle (don't count the centre stone)
Subtract this number from the number of figures in station 1.
E - The total number of figures in station 14.
W 7° FG.HJK
FG - In the grave yard right beside the church, there are a row of headstones. Count them and reverse the number.
HJK - Inside the church door there is a sign. Add together the years for the Oldest part of the church and the Lady Chapel. This will start as a 4 digit number and will work down to a 3 digit number(HJK)
The year of "A thorough renovation of the church was made and an Apse added" add the 4 digits of this year together and subtract from HJK
On the west side of the Lady chapel there's an inscription on a tablet. What age was Margaret Murray's father when he passed. Add this figure to the HJK total.
There are arches you could walk through on the north side of The Nave, divide the HJK total by the number of doorways. This is the final number.
There is a metal plectrum with the worst attempt at engraving you have ever seen for the FTF