1132 A.D.

This marks the first reference (or at least first easily noticed reference) to the year and/or number 1132, which recurs throughout Wake.

Two significant events in Irish history occurred in 1132:

"Diarmaid Mac Murrough has the abbey of Kildare in Ireland burned and the abbess raped. He becomes king of the province of Leinster.

St Malachy is made bishop of Armagh in Ireland to impose the Roman liturgy on the independent Irish church." (wikipedia)

Other sources give 1133 as the date Mac Murrough became king, though the burning of the abbey occurred in 1132.

Needless to say, speculation about the meaning of 1132 extends far beyond these references to recorded Irish history. For example, a summary of Campbell & Robinson's "Skeleton Key" interpretation may be found undere the heading "Four Dates" here: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/v/vonmeierk/4-04GOOD.html