Wrecked ship and treasure lost off Irish coast for nearly 400 years
Fierce Atlantic gales battered the Spanish Armada and the ship Girona was lost here until divers found it — and a hoard of treasures on the ocean floor — in the 1960s
The deceptively serene Causeway Coast. Picture: John G O'Dwyer
On July 29, 1588, having been delayed by bad weather, the mighty Spanish Armada set sail, full of confidence, from La Coruña. England had long been a thorn in the side of Catholic Spain and the objective of the Armada was to conquer the country and remove the Protestant Elizabeth I, from the throne.
Among the departing ships was La Girona: a large, heavily armed vessel powered by sail and oar that was primarily designed for use in calmer Mediterranean and tropical waters.
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