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Remembering Inishowen's Armada
wreck
16.05.11
FORTY years after the
discovery of the Spanish Armada wreck of La Trinidad
Valencera off the Inishowen coast, the public can
hear first-hand the story from some of the divers
who took part in the historic venture.
Members of the City of Derry Sub Aqua Club will
recall their memories of finding the wreck on
February 20, 1971, at this year’s Foyle Days
maritime event in the city.
La Trinidad Valencera, the fourth largest ship in
the Armada Fleet, floundered in 1588 at Kinnego Bay
during a violent storm. It lay undiscovered until
she was found by divers from the City of Derry Sub
Aqua Club nearly 400 years later. Derry City
Council’s Tower Museum houses a permanent exhibition
on the ship including cannons, textiles, pottery,
wooden bowls, pewter dishes, goblets, coins and
shoes along with many other items. |
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Kinnego Bay near Greencastle where La
Trinidad Valencera was shipwrecked in 1588. |
Roisin Doherty, head of
the Council’s Heritage and Museum Service, believes
the presence of the divers at the Foyle Days event
will encourage more people to come to the Tower
Museum to visit La Trinidad Valencera exhibition.
“The people of the North West region and beyond are
fascinated by this story and are always keen to know
what happened, what was found and who was involved
in the discovery. We believe that by bringing this
piece of local history out of the museum and to the
public at this family event, we can spark an
interest that will encourage them to visit the
exhibition at the Tower Museum,” she said.
Jack Scoltock, one of the divers involved in the
discovery said he was looking forward to meeting up
with his former colleagues and recounting their
experiences of 40 years ago.
Jack is one of a number of divers who found the
Valencera – with him were Father Michael Keaveney,
Archie Jack, Paddy Stewart, Charlie Perkinson (who
now lives in the US), Alan Ashworth and Danny
O’Donnell. Gerry Heatley, Ernie Green and Jim Whelan
are deceased while the trainee divers on that day
were Colm Villa, Jim Kydd and Bill Mooney. Foyle
Days will see a wide range of free family events
along the Queen’s Quay in Derry on May 21 and May
22.
www.derrycity.gov.uk/foyledays |
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