Welcome to Armagh!
Armagh is the site of two cathedrals, both on hills and both named after Saint Patrick. The Church of Ireland Cathedral dates back to around 445. The present-day, post-Reformation, Roman Catholic cathedral was constructed during the latter half of the 19th century and features twin 64m spires, making it the tallest such structure in the county. Armagh is one of the few cities in the world which is home to two cathedrals of the same name.
Armagh is the seat of both the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, both of whom hold the position of Primate of All Ireland for their respective denominations.
St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral stands on the hill from which the City of Armagh derives its name – Ard Mhacha the Height of Macha. Less than half a mile away, on the neighbouring hill, is St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral.
According to tradition, Saint Patrick founded his main church there in the year 445, and it eventually became the head church of Ireland. Muirchú writes that a pagan chieftain named Dáire would not let Patrick build a church on the hill of Ard Mhacha, but instead gave him lower ground to the east. One day, Dáire's horses died after grazing on the church land. He told his men to kill Patrick, but was himself struck down with illness. They begged Patrick to heal him, and Patrick's holy water revived both Dáire and his horses. Dáire rewarded Patrick with a great bronze cauldron and gave him the hill of Ard Mhacha to build a church.
It was this church that was the origin of the Damhliagh Mór or Great Stone Church mentioned in the Annals of Ulster in the ninth century. Therefore, Armagh owes everything to its traditional association with St Patrick. As early as the seventh century, Armagh’s primacy was recognized over all the churches of Ireland and to this day it is still the ‘Ecclesiastical Capital’ of Ireland.
To log this virtual you must take THREE photos as follows:
1. The posted coordinates bring you up the steps at St Patrick's RC Cathedral. Please take a photo of yourself with St Patrick's COI Cathedral in the background. This can be a selfie, a thumbs up, pointing to the location or you can include your caching name in the photo.
2. Remain at the posted coordinates and take a photo of yourself with St Patrick's RC Cathedral in the background. This can be a selfie, a thumbs up, pointing to the location or you can include your caching name in the photo.
3. Proceed to the top of the steps and up to the doorway of the cathedral (stage 2 coordinates). Locate the statue of St Patrick (above head height and to the left of the doorway) and take a photo of yourself with St Patrick. This can be a selfie, a thumbs up, pointing to the location or you can include your caching name in the photo.
Please wait to log your find until you can include the required photos with your log. Logs without the required photos will be deleted without warning. There is plenty of parking in and around the cathedral, please be mindful when visiting during times when services are on.
I have included examples of the photos to be taken below:
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.