Underwater archaeologists are set to examine a shipwreck which could have been part of the Spanish Armada
Posted on 08/06/2011 5:45:50 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The wreckage of a sunken vessel believed to be from the Spanish Armada has been discovered off the Donegal coast... in shallow waters in Rutland Harbour, near Burtonport.
Evidence uncovered during a dive survey revealed the vessel was likely to be a 16th-century ship, possibly part of the 1588 Spanish Armada.
Heritage minister Jimmy Deenihan... said the discovery was a major find of significance not only to Ireland but also to the international archaeological, historical and maritime communities.
"If, in fact, it proves to be an Armada vessel, it could constitute one of the most intact of these wrecks discovered to date," he said.
"It could provide huge insight into life on board and the reality of the military and naval resources available to the Armada campaign."
Up to 24 ships of the 130-strong ill-fated fleet were wrecked along Ireland's rocky coastline. The location of the latest vessel means the search team will have better than usual access to find any artefacts that may still be on board.
Nearly 10,000 pieces of valuable treasure were discovered on the biggest ship in the fleet, the Girona, which sunk off the Antrim north coast in October 1588. The haul brought ashore by divers included hundreds of gold and silver coins, gold chains, pendants, rings and cameos containing inset rubies and pearls, silver forks and spoons, the ship's anchor, cannons and cannon balls.
Mr Deenihan said the Geological Survey of Ireland is supplying one of its research vessels, the RV Keary, free of charge as the main dive vessel off Donegal and will also carry out detailed marine geophysical surveys in the vicinity of the wreck.
(Excerpt) Read more at belfasttelegraph.co.uk ...
Underwater archaeologists are set to examine a shipwreck which could have been part of the Spanish Armada
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For the last time, I didn’t steer it!
As soon as the wreck is recovered and properly preserved Spain would like it back. For free of course.
Black Irish Take note! The name Cruise is a corruption of the Spanish name Cruz. When the Spanish washed ashore, the Irish discovered A) They were devout Roman Catholics, and B) they hated the English. Needless to say they became good friends.
Black Irish aren't descended from the Spanish; it's just a description of their black hair, attributed to the pre-Celtic people of Ireland (and Britain). It's a translation from Irish Gaelic: fear dubh is literally 'black man', which is how a man with black hair is described. Someone we would actually call a Black man in English is called fear gorm in Gaelic. Many Spanish have light brown or blond hair as well. Chuck Woollery referred to himself as Black Irish, and if you want other examples, think Matt Dillon, or Kevin Dillon on Entourage.
You wrote: “...most of the survivors were killed by the Irish,...”
Partly true. Many of my ancestors were noted ecclesiastics including the most Reverend Redmond O’ Gallagher (1521 - 1601), a bishop of Derry who was martyred for the aid he rendered to survivors of the Spanish Armada.
I totally agree with your interpretation of “Black Irish.” And as for the actors.... Matt Dillon, Kevin Dillon and even more representative of “Black Irish”... Peter Gallagher.
Thanks for your clarification and for pointing out that helping the Spanish was on pain of death, which explains why, even though there might have been widespread sympathy for them and cases of life-risking aid and hospitality, most were killed by the British establishment in Ireland and their Irish adherents.
Why is it that the “eggheads” claim everything that may be old on the surface of the Earth & bottom of the sea as imporant & any treasure of historical imporantance? What ever happened to finders keepers? If I find something of old age, whether of the sea floor & on my property, every egghead wants to lay claim to it & the gov.’t wants to take it or tax it to death.........
A likely story.
Well, the Spanish did have a certain influence in Ireland, or this would not be one of their favorite old folk songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHOyPLSVam4
Celtic Woman, there’s a pretty sight. I don’t know about ‘favorite’ though. The beauty of Spanish women inspires more than just Irish songwriters, and that has included me at times as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ziYB_73u2E instrumental, but the refrain is ‘Lady of Spain, I adore you’
I didn’t mean to discount the amity between Ireland and Latin Catholic countries: many Spanish nobility and royalty, including the king of Spain, are descended from Irish nobility and royalty that had to flee; same goes for Portugal, even to the extent that Brazil is named after a submerged Irish land of legend and the Irish people that to this day are named for that; and when the training of Catholic priests was outlawed by the British in Ireland, many Irish students went to Port Royal in France, among other places, to study and take their vows. And supposedly the first lion in northern Europe was a gift from the ruler of Spain (in the 1400’s I think) to the ruler of Galway, in Ireland’s west - more easily reached than parts of Europe.
Rather simplistic way of looking at it, since Irish Mercantile fleets had been trading in Spain for a long time before the Armada set sail. The native Irish knew before the survivors struggled ashore that these were fellow Catholics, and were in opposition to the Tudors, who at that particular time were increasing the English crown's control over the isle, which had long lapsed.
The claim of control had been originally established by William the Conqueror, but by the 15th century, the descendants of the knights he had established to rule over the isle had largely 'gone native' and were virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the Irish. These families would be the Fitzgeralds (fils Gerald), Burke (de Burgo), and other 'clans' which would bedevil Henry VII, Henry VIII, and Elizabeth during their reigns. They fought as fiercely against the Tudors as Hugh Ui' Domnhail, Hugh Ui' Niall, and Feach Mac Hugh Ui' Byrne did, starting with the Fitzgeralds in Desmond, in the mid-15th century. That entire period of Irish history, like many others of that land, had a real interesting cast of characters...
the infowarrior
I always thought that referred to “travelers” (gypsies.)
Yes, and no to the Irish killing off the survivors of the wrecked armada vessel who struggled ashore to Ireland. It would depend on where, as Ireland itself was being contested, and had been for a time previous to 1588. The Tudors were attempting to re-establish English control over Ireland, but that process was not completed until the battle of Kinsale, in 1602. What is known is that those Irish who did attempt to aid the survivors ran the risk of death themselves, and there were no few who actually paid that price...
the infowarrior
Thanks, yes, that was clarified a bit above. And I basically agree with what you’re saying about Kinsale in the winter of 1601/1602; it was the defeat of the last of the independent, native Gaelic nobility.
The majority of the survivors of the Spanish Armada - many perished on the rocks or never made it to shore - were killed, the sailors and men. The majority of the nobility aboard, and there were many, were ransomed, sometimes sent to London to be held until the ransom was delivered. As far as who did the killing, I don’t have case by case details, if they exist, but it wouldn’t just have been purely the English. It would also have been those Irish who believed themselves to be part of the British Empire and that it deserved their loyalty, along with other British serving in the military there, like Welsh or Scots.
It’s also quite rare to find someone with black hair and blue eyes outside of Ireland or Irish ancestry. That is the ‘typical’ black Irish, at least according to my grandma—who herself had the red hair of the Nordic invaders, but she married a black Irish. My dad had black, curly hair and gray-blue eyes. I got his hair, but my maternal Spanish grandad’s hazel eyes.
You’re probably right; that’s the way I understand it at least. Most I know like that are indeed of Irish or Scottish background. It’s a striking combination. Strikingly beautiful, I’ve often found.
Interesting.... and I like the “Celtic Women” as well!
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