The
cache is hidden at the posted coordinates however you in order to
log a valid find you MUST complete the Ireland Top Ten
Challenge.
The
challenge: Groundspeak have introduced a
Favorites feature which aims to seek out the best
of the best caches and tracks those that a premium member enjoyed
the most with 1 point awarded for every 10 caches found. The caches
that have been awarded the most points stand above the rest for
various reasons, perhaps its in an area of outstanding natural
beauty such as GC1W06N
or near a striking national landmark; GCE388 or maybe its a cache
that's part of geocaching history like GC43. In any case you can be
assured that these caches are well worth the visit and perhaps will
become one of your favorites too!
So what
are Ireland's Top Ten Caches?
The current top ten can be found as follows:
1. From the geocaching.com homepage click Hide & Seek A
Cache
2. Search by Country: and select
Ireland from the drop down list and click
GO
3. On the next page click Search for
Geocaches
4. Now click the blue ribbon filter (
)along
the top of the header column.
Alternatively
this link should perform the above steps for you (Available to
Premium
Members only)
Sin é (That's it!). The top ten caches will be displayed in
descending order.
At the time
you decide to accept the challenge you must do the
following:
1. Post a note on the cache page listing the top ten caches in
Ireland for that day, this is your "challenge list"
2. Find and log those caches (the easy part!)
3. When you have found all ten post a note or bookmark list showing
your completed list
4. Find the final (alternatively find all ten and the final and
include your challenge list in the final cache log)
Questions &
Answers
All questions are answered on a Geocaching Ireland forum thread
here,
any other questions please contact me through my geocaching.com
profile and they will be promptly answered and included!
Description of Cache Location
Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) is situated at the mouth of Scarriff Bay
on Lough Derg. It is one of the most renound monastic sites in
Ireland and includes a well preserved Round Tower and the remains
of several churches which have survived in excellent condition
owing to their secluded location. The island is associated with St.
Caimin who died in 653. Detailed information on the various sites
on the island is available
here (page 1) and a map is available here (page 2).
This Information was kindly provided by Local Historian, Author and
Boatman Gerard Madden who also rented me a boat to travel to the
island to place the cache!
Getting
to Holy Island
Boat rental is available at the Harbour in Mount Shannon and costs
about €25 for two hours. Island transfers and guided tours are
available from the Holy Island Pier (See coordinates below,
€10, Group Rates also apply and well worth the money to spend
a few hours on the island with a picnic or just relaxing in the
solidtude!). Alternatively it is entirely possible to canoe/kayak
to the island.
Please be aware that the entire Lough Derg Region
is infested with zebra mussels which poses a threat to other lakes
and waterways in Ireland so please consult local information boards
and this
website Please take all precautions when near open water as
appropriate especially when children are involved, lifejackets etc
are a MUST.
While this cache is open to be found at any time the general
idea is that you find all ten favourites and then the final. If you
have the opportunity to visit the final location before a
completing the list you are welcome to post this as a note on the
cache page but only a log in the logbook dated on or after the date
on which you completed the challenge will get the
smiley...Ineligible online logs will be deleted/amended
All credit for this idea has to go to The Podcacher who linked
me to
Gredgeman & Tagalong Lynn whose original idea for a Top Ten Challenge this
cache is based on
Note That the Terrain Rating for this cache was judged on the basis
of the actual final locations rating combined with the terain of
the caches required for the challenge. The terrain of the final
location is genuinely 3-4 as water must be crossed and there is a
10 min walk over uneven ground but an extra star and a bit is added
owing to the various terrains that the top ten caches may present
