Overview
This geocache will take you on a 1-2 hour walk through the quaint and authentic town of Askeaton (Waterfall of Géitine/Eas Géitine). The walk is approximately 3 km (4.3 km round trip) and will bring you on a journey to some of the more interesting locations in Askeaton.
This cache is recommended for dog walkers, tourists, staycationers and photographers. There is a lot to see and a little bit of reading along the way. Hopefully you will enjoy the lack of tourist attractions and appreciate the authenticity of the town.
This cache is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers from Waypoint 4 to Waypoint 5. The clue needed at Waypoint 4 is available on any map. Please PM me if you cannot access Waypoint 5 and I will send you the necessary information to complete the cache.
With a population of no more than 2000 people and little tourist traction, Askeaton is often forgotten about even though it is the 2nd oldest town in Ireland according to local tour guide Anthony Sheehy.
Parking
N 52° 36.053 W 008° 58.120
Parking is available free of charge in Askeaton. You will be guaranteed a parking place at the local supermarket, SuperValu. Waypoint 1 is only a small walk from here.
Stage 1 - Saint Mary’s Church of Ireland Church
N 52° 36.042 W 008° 58.253
The Irish flag is a vertical tricolour with the colours green, white and orange. It was originally gifted to a republican Irish leader Thomas Meagher who outlines the meaning behind the colours:
"The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between Orange and Green and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood".
The history of Catholicism and Protestantism in Ireland is complicated and still permeates into Irish culture today. This waypoint takes you outside the Protestant Church of Askeaton, which is still in use and retains the belfry of a Knights Templar tower.
Aubrey de Vere is buried in the graveyard of the church, but you don’t need to enter. Take the last digit of the year de Vere died and call this number A.
De Vere was also born on the grounds of Curragh Chase, which is open to the public and perfect for a walk. It is also currently home to 3 geocaches, and I would recommend doing all of them if you’re staying in the surrounding area.
On your journey to Waypoint 2, you will pass through the town square. There is a market here every Friday morning with fresh farm produce and locally made food.
Stage 2 - The Little Bridge and Desmond Castle
N 52° 36.028 W 008° 58.414
The bridge you’re standing at is ancient, and is as old as the castle you can see, which dates back to 1199 AD. It crosses the river Deel, which you’ll need to cross twice more on the way to GZ.
The castle is the historical centre of the town and is rich in history. There are currently ongoing works to make the castle safely accessible to the public. East of the castle is a red brick building, which served as the home of The Hellfire Club. This was a strange secret society connected with the Freemasons and human sacrifice.
The tourist office has placed a sign by the bridge with a fictionalised future of The Hellfire Club. Read it and answer the following: By what percent did the population of Askeaton and its environs increase by in 2262 AD? Call this number B.
To get to Waypoint 3, cross the bridge and go right immediately. You’ll pass the Tennis Club and enter the river walk, known locally as ‘the green’. Enjoy the area and try to pick up some rubbish if you see it. The view across the river Deel is usually quite beautiful. Remember to look up from your GPS every once in a while!
Stage 3 - Askeaton Leisure Centre
N 52° 36.154 W 008° 58.483
Here you will stand outside the only public pool in County Limerick. It is a state-of-the-art leisure centre with a gym, pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. The people of Askeaton were instrumental in the construction and operation of the building. The leisure centre now accommodates most of West Limerick.
Can you find the day in January 2008 (i.e. 1st/2nd/etc.) when the building was opened by the President of Ireland? Call this number C.
Now continue following the path past the car park and play park. You will come to a gate which you can open, but make sure to close it. Continue up this road to the bridge, which you can reach by using the staircase at N 52° 36.238 W 008° 58.627.
Stage 4 - The Big Bridge
N 52° 36.253 W 008° 58.591
This bridge is on the road from Limerick to Tralee. For this stage you simply need to find the name of this road (N__) and add the two numbers together. Call this number D.
This bridge, compared to the small bridge you visited earlier, is interesting. From it you can see the Friary, the castle, and much more of Askeaton than anywhere else. However, because of this bridge, Askeaton is completely bypassed by the road. Try to imagine how different Askeaton would be if every car passing you on this bridge instead had to drive through the town.
You will now need to make your way to the Friary. Keep walking across the bridge and take the first right, then follow the signposts for the ‘Franciscan Friary’. Enter the graveyard and walk up to the entrance, which may or may not be unlocked.
Stage 5 - Friary of Askeaton/Askeaton Abbey
N 52° 36.225 W 008° 58.511
The Franciscans are a religious order within the Catholic Church founded in 1209. Members of the order had to make vows of extreme poverty and most lived in monasteries or friaries together. They could not own possessions and devoted their life to ‘serving God by serving man’.
The Askeaton Friary was established in 1389. Today the ruins still stand and access is available most of the time. Even if the Friary is closed, there are multiple plaques and signs outside the entrance that give some historical detail about the building.
From these signs you should be able to see that in 1627 some friars returned to the site after it had been burned. For how many years did the community remain active? Call this number E.
I would highly recommend exploring the Friary if the gate is unlocked. When you’re finished, head back towards the road. Opposite the turn off for the Friary is Askeaton Medical Centre (the busiest doctor’s office in Ireland- seriously) and Askeaton A.F.C., the football club. Take a right here until you reach the small park by the river.
Stage 6 - Proclamation of the Irish Republic
N 52° 36.124 W 008° 58.414
This park is built in commemoration of those who laid down their lives for the cause of Irish freedom. For 800 years, the United Kingdom ruled Ireland and only in the 20th century did Ireland reclaim its independence. To this day, Northern Ireland remains a part of the United Kingdom and this fact has always caused political unrest or uncertainty.
The move towards an Irish Republic was kickstarted by the 1916 Easter Rising, when an insurrection by Irish nationalists overthrew strategic locations in the city of Dublin and tried to end British rule in Ireland. On the morning of Easter Monday 1916, Pádraig Pearse read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic outside the General Post Office in Dublin. It is a document signed by 7 Irish republican leaders asserting the right of the Irish people to the island of Ireland under a united republic with universal suffrage.
This document in its original English and Irish form is available in this park. Today it is a national icon, and most Irish people have read it and learned the history behind it in school or otherwise. Now it’s your turn: read the proclamation and find how many times in the past 300 years have the Irish people asserted their right to sovereignty in arms? Call this number F.
Once you’ve finished reading, take a look at the other signs commemorating those from Askeaton and Ballysteen who died for Irish freedom. There is also a lovely view of Waypoints 2 and 3 from here.
The route to Waypoint 7 is the longest. You’ll walk alongside the river and cross the little bridge once more, then head straight up the town. Keep following this road. Alongside you will mostly be residential houses until you reach the final church.
Stage 7 - Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church
N 52° 36.020 W 008° 58.952
This cache began at the town’s Protestant Church, and now you stand in front of the Catholic Church. It was built in 1851 when the Friary church burned down in 1847. For those interested in Irish history, this was during the Great Famine of Ireland when millions of Irish people starved or emigrated. If your family has late Irish ancestry, this period is probably when your ancestors arrived in America, Britain, etc. The population of Ireland fell by 25% during this time.
You may respectfully enter the church if it is open, but be mindful of other churchgoers. The information needed at this stage is available outside the church. In what year was Rev. Edmund Treacy ordained? Call this number G.
The final cache is a short walk away. But first you’ll need to do some work to get the final co-ordinates.
GZ
The cache is hidden not far from Stage 7 in a slip road. It is a large container and not too difficult to find. There’s also a nice spot for taking photographs if you’re into that stuff.
The maths here might be a little bit more complicated than what you're used to. With a calculator it’s not that bad! Just remember your order of operations.
If you feel some of your answers are wrong, here are some rough ideas of what your answers should be:
- 0 < A < 10 (A is between 0 and 10)
- 0 < B < 100 (B is between 0 and 100)
- 0 < C < 31 (etc.)
- 0 < D < 18
- 100 < E < 200
- 0 < F < 10
- 1500 < G < 2000
You can also check your answer with this checksum:
A + B + C + D + E + F + G = 2053
I hope that you enjoyed/will enjoy this geocache. Askeaton on a sunny day can be the most beautiful thing in the world, which is why I wanted to share the town with others. Good luck and enjoy!
