Waterford — Strongbow's Lost Statue
Uncover the fate of Strongbow's 13th-century statue, buried in secret near the cathedral after standing guard at Reginald's Tower. Decode clues across Viking and Norman landmarks to locate this priceless relic before it's lost forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1170, Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow, sealed his alliance with Irish royalty through a dramatic marriage to Aoife in Waterford, launching the Anglo-Norman conquest
Waterford — Strongbow's Lost Statue
You are a royal archivist in Dublin, 1210, dispatched by King John of England.
Your urgent mission: locate Strongbow's lost statue, a critical symbol of Anglo-
Delve into the heart of Dublin, following in the footsteps of Strongbow and the Norman invasion that shaped Ireland for 800 years.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
« The obedience of the citizens is the happiness of the city »— Historic motto of Dublin
The story that haunts this land
Your investigation begins in front of Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral, founded in 1038 by Sitric Silkbeard, Viking King of Dublin. Rebuilt in Norman Gothic style in the 12th century, this 91-meter-long cathedral hosted the marriage of Strongbow (Richard de Clare) and Aoife MacMurrough on August 24, 1170. This event, a cornerstone of the Anglo-Norman presence in Ireland, is the starting point of your quest to understand Strongbow's legacy. The 12th-century crypt, restored between 1871 and 1878 after the nave collapsed in 1562, still holds vestiges that speak of this pivotal era for Leinster.
Continue towards Dublin Castle, built in 1204 by order of King John of England. This Anglo-Norman fortress became a key site for controlling Dublin, its expansion directly linked to the Norman invasion initiated by Strongbow in 1170. You will cross the Upper Castle Yard, an inner courtyard measuring 47 by 45 meters, surrounded by 13th-century fortifications. The Record Tower, dated 1226, is the oldest surviving structure of the castle, bearing witness to 800 years of British colonial rule before 1922. It is here that the archives of the Norman presence are most concentrated.
A short walk away, Dublin City Hall, a neoclassical edifice built between 1769 and 1779 by architect Thomas Cooley, stands on the site of the former Merchants' Exchange. Its 20-meter-diameter interior rotunda, topped by a 21-meter-high dome, has hosted the permanent 'Story of the Capital' exhibition since 2000. This exhibition traces Dublin's history from Viking and Norman times, providing vital context for your research. The building, located in direct proximity to the post-1170 Norman expansion zone, offers clues about the lasting influence of Strongbow.
Your route then takes you to the Temple Bar district, a medieval area of Dublin dating from the 12th-13th centuries, established during the Anglo-Norman expansion period. Named after the Temple family of the 17th century, its original medieval cobblestone streets still exist. This location was historically home to the Temple of the Knights Templar, a military order linked to the Crusades and Norman expansion. Restored and revitalized between 1991 and 2000, Temple Bar retains its original medieval topography, immersing you in Dublin's past. Cross the Ha'penny Bridge, an 1816 cast-iron bridge spanning the Liffey, which marked the boundary of medieval Dublin. This bridge, 43 meters long and 3.6 meters wide, is located at the site of strategic river crossings since Viking and Norman times, an original 11th-century ford connecting the post-1170 Anglo-Norman controlled areas.
Your quest concludes at Christ Church Cathedral, where Strongbow was initially buried after his death in 1176. The 1170 invasion he led marked the beginning of 800 years of Anglo-Norman rule in Ireland, and his marriage to Aoife MacMurrough legitimized this presence. Although Strongbow's 13th-century statue is supposedly buried in Waterford, near that city's Christ Church Cathedral, the clues discovered in Dublin illuminate his legacy. In Waterford, a bronze sculpture 'The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife' was unveiled on August 24, 2014, commemorating this foundational marriage. This journey offers you a deep understanding of Dublin's history, Leinster, and Strongbow's lasting impact on Irish heritage.
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Royal Intrigue
Untangle the tensions between Strongbow and Henry II, and the stakes of sovereignty.
Military Conquest
Retrace the steps of the Anglo-Norman invasion that reshaped the map of Ireland.
Medieval Foundations
Explore the remnants of medieval Dublin, a stronghold of the English Pale.
Conquering is just the beginning, governing is the true challenge.
Ireland's destiny shifted with the Norman sword.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Delve into the heart of Dublin, following in the footsteps of Strongbow and the Norman invasion that shaped Ireland for 800 years.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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