Here are some frequently asked questions about geocaching. If you have any questions, send them in and we'll try to answer them. There is also help at hand over in the forums.
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Is Geocaching legal?
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Yes! Owning a GPS is quite legal - its not like a radar detector or anything like that. What is not legal is trespassing to place a cache or to access a cache. Most caches are not placed on private property, so you should not have to trespass to geocache. At the same time, the fact that someone else has placed a cache on private grounds does not give you the right to also enter these grounds. If in doubt, don't enter. |
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How much does Geocaching cost? |
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Nothing! You won't have to pay us, the official geocaching site, the cache owner or anyone else to visit a cache or place a cache yourself. |
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How much does Geocaching really cost? |
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OK, so there are expenses involved. Firstly you'll need a GPS. You should be able to get a basic model for about €130. See our equipment page for details on where to get one. You can do a certain amount of caching using your feet, bike or with public transport, but to get to the more out of the way caches you'll really need a car. Petrol in Ireland currently costs about €1 per litre, so driving can be quite pricey. Good waterproof clothing and hiking boots are not essential but help a great deal when accessing more remote caches. Preparing a cache can also be quite expensive. A Tupperware box can cost €5 and the cost of the contents can also add up. Shop around and you should be able to get some good items cheap. The many "pound shops" (are they now called euro shops?) can provide boxes and goodies for next to nothing, so you may be able to put a good cache together for about €10. You might also want to invest in a good map of the cache area, especially if the cache involves a long walk or climb. The Ordnance Survey's excellent Discover / Discovery series covers the country at a scale of 1:50000. They cost around €7.50 each and are well worth the investment. |
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I've just watched "Enemy of the State" and am really paranoid. Can the government track my every move from my GPS? |
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No, your GPS does not transmit a signal, rather it only receives signals, so you're free to move about unobserved. There are GPS devices that allow tracking, such as those used for observing animal migrations, or those undoubtedly used by spies for exciting James Bond style scenarios, but your commercial GPS can only receive signals. |
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How many caches are there in Ireland? |
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About 550, though that number is growing fast. Click here for the latest list. |
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How many people are caching in Ireland? |
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There's probably about 100 cachers in Ireland, though maybe only 40-50 are caching on a regular basis. The last year has seen a massive increase in caching numbers, which is very exciting!. A large number of tourists undertake geocaching while they are here, so your cache will probably get as much foreign traffic as it does local traffic. |
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How do I meet other cachers? |
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Come along to an event cache, or organise one yourself! You can also email any cacher through the official site. A good way to get to know, and eventually meet, other Irish cachers is to engage in some banter over on the geocachingireland.com forums. These have proved to be quite popular and are a good way to arrange a meeting or event. |
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How do I obtain permission to place a cache? |
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Unravelling land holdings in Ireland is a complicated business. Traditional patterns of ownership and disposal (some dating back for hundreds of years) mean that there can be many layers of freehold, long leases, short leases, sub-lettings, divisions, sub-sub-lettings and annual grazing rights. Here's a few tips (based on bitter experience) for how to go about getting permission to place a cache.
- Ask around
Your aim is get in contact with the current user of the land. In the countryside, this means talking to the old gornicle with the dog, and string holding up his trousers. He'll know who's renting what land, and for how long. Take a packet of cigs with you - even if you don't smoke.
- Local Government is cool
Local councils are easier to deal with than State agencies like Coilte or the FSNI. Make sure you are talking to the right person - it'll be the Parks and Rec bloke, or possibly a Countryside Liaison Officer if they have one. County Councils are mad for tourism development, so use that as a lever. (see below.)
When dealing with Council officials, watch out for "coded messages" and make sure that you ask the right question. For example: I asked if Armagh CC would give permission to place a cache in one of their forests. (Clare Glen.) "No", was the reply, "because it would need a formal resolution of the full Council in session, to grant such a thing. And we couldn't really do that over a little plastic box."
Wrong question, you see. I asked: would the Parks Dept have any objection if a cache were placed there? "No objection at all. That's fine."
- Go prepared
Print off all the helpful documents from the GC website, or the resources web page Make sure that you include the CITO one, if that's likely to help.
- Talk it up
When negotiating, be aware of what's in it for the owner/manager and stress that point. With County Councils, mention the number of overseas cachers who visit Ireland. Play the CITO card, as well. Put on some spin about geocaching being a non-competitive, family friendly activity. That always goes down well.
- Bribery works
You can't offer inducements to a public servant, but farmers and other land-holders are a different matter. If your negotiation has reached a critical stage, producing a bottle of 'Black Bush' may just swing the balance. (Don't laugh - I used this method, and it worked!) Remember that you are asking favours of a country person in Ireland - where the tradition is: give something to get something...
- If you don't ask, you don't get
When approaching a land-holder for permission, be open and direct. Explain clearly (and as briefly as possible) what you want. Don't waffle. Don't tell lies. If the landowner is suspicious of your motives, he/she won't agree to anything. Bring a (smallish) cache box with you, and show it. Bring your GPS as well, and be prepared to demonstrate what it does. People love gadgets!
- Be professional
It's only a hobby, but you can aid your application by being organised. Don't just wander up to someone's farm, or office - make an appointment. Print off some cards with your name, phone number and e-mail address on.
You can easily convey the impression (without saying so) that you are part of a large body of people who know what they are doing, and like to do it properly. This isn't black magic - it really does help.
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It rains a lot in Ireland - is there such a thing as a totally watertight cache container that I can use? |
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No. |
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Why not? |
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Because even if the box WAS nominally waterproof, you can't guarantee that people will close it properly. |
Here's Wildlifewriter's unofficial guide to containers... best to worst, with (A)dvantages and (D)isadvantages...
Surplus ammo box (new):
Positive closure with rubber seals, robust, spacious (types vary), idiot-proof locking mechanism.
(A) Can take the worst of the weather.
(D) Hard to source; expensive.
Surplus ammo box (used):
As above, but may have been knocked about a bit. Damaged hinges can mean leaks.
(A) Good value.
(D) Pot luck on condition; controlled explosions.
Transit boxes (Otterbox):
Normally used for protecting expensive equipment during shipping. Totally waterproof, but complicated locking mechanism may baffle baby cachers.
(A) Rolls-Royce quality.
(D) Rolls-Royce prices.
Tab-Lock Box:
Ideal cache container. Huge range of shapes and sizes. Positive seal, almost idiot-proof lock mechanism.
(A) Robust, weatherproof.
(D) Expensive, esp in large sizes. Not easy to source. Lid may leak if anything trapped under seal.
Branded kitchenware:
If it says "Rubbermaid" or "Tupperware" then quality is good. Look for flexible lids which seal better in cold weather. Vast range.
(A) Inexpensive.
(D) Lid may leak if not closed correctly.
Generic Kitchenware:
Sold in most supermarkets: a lot is made by Addis but may be branded "Tesco". Poorer quality and materials; designed for ease of opening, rather than freedom from leaks.
(A) Cheap.
(D) Cheap.
Coffee jar: or similar.
Will last for ever, or until accidentally broken. Leakproof. Small capacity.
(A) Recycling.
(D) Fragile.
Chop-suey Special:
The thing your Chinese meal or microwave dinner came in. Small, flimsy; never designed to be used more than once. Leaks automatically.
(A) It's free.
(D) It's useless.
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