Streedagh Back Strand, Grange, Co. Sligo, Irland

Dies sind die Reste einer spanischen Galeone, die nach der verlorenen Schlacht gegen die Engländer nach Norden flohen und hofften, an Schottland und Irland vorbei wieder Spanien zu erreichen. Durch einen heftigen Sturm wurden sie bei Grange an den Strand gespült und kenterten.

Three ships belonging to the Spanish Armada were wrecked on Streedagh Beach in 1588. The armada was amassed to attack and if possible wipe out the English navy fleet. However subsequent to the decisive battle of Gravelines, a battle which the Spanish lost, the fleet fled north rounding Scotland and Ireland in the hope of returning to Spain. The ships were attempting to shelter from a ferocious Atlantic storm, however, given the severity of the weather they came aground and were wrecked. The sailors that landed at Streedagh were massacred by English troops garrisoned in Sligo, however, some survived through a mixture of good fortune and assistance from some of the Irish chieftains of the area. Captain De Cuellar's account of his experience of these events is an extremely significant piece of social history and his epic journey back to his homeland is commemorated to this day as part of the Celtic Fringe Festival, held in Grange each June.
The carboniferous limestone rocks at Streedagh contain many species of fossil coral. Zaphrentis are particularly common here, formed about four hundred million years ago.
(Quelle: Wikipedia)