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The
Girona was a Galleass of the Spanish Armada, she carried a
compliment of 121 sailors, 186 soldiers, 50 bronze cannons and 224
rowers, though when she struck Lacada Point on
October 30th 1588, it is estimated that she had a compliment of around
1200 men on board. This came about as follows:-
The second in
command of the Spanish Armada was Don Alonso Martinez Levia who
was aboard the ' Rata Santa Maria Encoronada', the 'Encoronada' carried
a compliment of 420 sailors and soldiers plus 35 cannons, the ship had
proven difficult to manoeuvre in the winds around the west coast of
Ireland and had received a severe battering by gales before finding
shelter in Blacksod Bay, County Mayo. Dropping anchor, Don Alonso
intended to get fresh water and supplies, repair some minor damage and
wait for a break in the weather before heading south again. The winds
though held strong and the anchors proved incapable of holding the 900
ton ship, she was gradually blown ashore on Fahy Strand, Ballycroy. The
crew stripped the ship of cannons, stores and other valuables and set
her alight, they then made their way to nearby deserted Doona Castle
which they are said to have fortified with cannon in preparation for a
confrontation with English troops who had local allies and were active
in the area. Another two ships (and maybe more) arrived in the locality, the 'Santiago' which subsequently foundered at Poulatornish,
Broadhaven and the 'Dunquesa Santa Ana' which also anchored in
Blacksod Bay.
The 'Dunquesa Santa
Ana ' had 23 guns, 280 soldiers and 77 sailors on board, for Don
Alonso and his men it was a godsend. They carried out minor
repairs to her, took aboard fresh water, loaded what had been salvaged
from the 'Encoronada' and set sail hoping to locate other ships of
the scattered fleet. Again, they encountered strong gales which drove
them northwards and into Donegal Bay, the winds did not abate and
they were eventually driven ashore near Ardara in Loughros Mor
Bay where the ship foundered. Having got ashore, a local
gave them assistance and shelter, word came that other Spanish
ships were located further along the coast, with his
compliment of men (estimated to have been around 1000) complete with
cannons and valuables, Don Alonso marched northwards and
discovered that three ships had come in on the gales at Killybegs. The 'Girona' was undergoing repairs to a damaged rudder sustained in the
gales and the other two, the 'Lavia' and 'San Juan' had both
foundered. This time, instead of heading south towards Spain, Don Alonso decided to take the 'Girona' northwards to Scotland
where he believed they could find relative safety, recuperate and
then make their way back to Spain from there. The 'Girona' set out from
Killybegs with the surviving crews of two other shipwrecks and all their
accumulated valuables and cannons. Once again, increasingly bad
weather was encountered which resulted in the rudder being damaged off
Inishowen, now they found themselves being blown by gale force winds
towards the north coast, the power of the 224 rowers could
do nothing to keep the ship offshore and she finally struck Lacada Point
on October 28th, 1588. There a varying accounts as to the numbers
who survived, some say three, others five and some nine, those
that did survive are said to have received shelter and assistance
from Sorley Boy MacDonnell of Dunluce Castle. The rest is folklore. Stories tell of victims, perhaps even Don ALonso
himself (who knows?) being buried in St. Cuthbert's Graveyard at Dunluce and others, of
survivors settling and marrying into the local population. Another
fascinating insight into the conditions endured by survivors was
recorded by Francisco De Cuellar who survived a shipwreck and walked
across the north west of Ireland, he made it across to Scotland and
eventually back to Spain.
'Amongst all the shipwrecks and battle sites in Ireland, this is
one that deserves a cairn or even a plaque to recognize the
loss of so many lives. It is haunting to look down on
Port na Spaniagh as evening falls on a stormy winter day and the
wind cries against the basalt cliffs. To imagine the plight of those
twelve hundred sailors, noblemen and rural sons whose lives ended in the
dark coldness of an Irish winter, so far from the warm fields of Spain.
Their gold, silver and possessions scattered upon the seabed and their
bones along the shoreline. Yet not a trace, a mark, or a simple plaque
is placed to remind us of the tragedy that unfolded here. Our
imaginations are left to wonder.......
Art Ward 1990
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