Armada cannons raised after 400 years on seabed
TWO cannons which lay undiscovered on the bed of the Atlantic for more than 400 years are the latest relics to be recovered from the Spanish Armada wreckage.
The material dates back to 1588, when three Spanish vessels were shipwrecked off the Sligo coast.
Archaeologists say one bears a dedication to and depiction of St Matrona, a saint particularly venerated by the people of Catalonia and Barcelona. It is believed the material became exposed as a result of the major storms off the west coast over the last two years. While the discovery is historically priceless, experts say that one three-metre long bronze cannon would be worth between €60,000 and €80,000 in scrap. A number of cannons from the merchant vessel La Juliana have been found in sands off Streedagh, Co Sligo, since timbers from the exposed wreck began washing ashore in April.
The guns will be conserved by the National Museum of Ireland.
Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys described the discoveries as “historically and archaeologically significant.”
A security operation is also in place to safeguard the valuable shipwreck sites from treasure hunters.