Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

"The Spanish Armada In Ireland" Opens New Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Winter Zoom Session

25th October 2021
Doomed ships of the Spanish Armada at the Blasket Islands in September 1588. Four vessels sought shelter in the lee of the Great Blasket Island, and while two succeeded and eventually got safely back to Spain, two – the Rosa and Ragusa – were wrecked.
Doomed ships of the Spanish Armada at the Blasket Islands in September 1588. Four vessels sought shelter in the lee of the Great Blasket Island, and while two succeeded and eventually got safely back to Spain, two – the Rosa and Ragusa – were wrecked.

DBOGA invites you to join their 2021-2022 Winter Monthly Zoom Sessions, opening with "The Spanish Armada in Ireland", which will be given by Cormac Lowth on Thursday 28th October at 20.00hrs.

In 1588, one hundred and thirty heavily armed ships of the Spanish Empire set sail with the intention of invading England. After a series of misfortunes, mostly due to bad weather, the fleet was dispersed and attempted to return to Spain west of Ireland, and in all at least twenty six of the ships were wrecked on the Irish coast.

Cormac will be outlining the story of the Armada to include the circumstances which led to its formation, and the many disasters which befell the ships during their unsuccessful attempt at invasion.
He will also be discussing the fate of many of the fleet which were wrecked upon the coast of Ireland as they attempted to get back to Spain, and many of the discoveries that have been made of these vessels in subsequent years.

Cormac will be showing a wealth of rare illustrations of many of the treasures and archaeological objects that have been discovered by divers on the various wrecks.

Please come early to be sure of getting a good seat!

DBOGA Fundraising for HOWTH RNLI: Pre-Covid, we listened to talks together at Poolbeg Y&BC while passing the Yellow Welly around for your €5 donation. In Zoomland, we can't
 do that, but the RNLI still urgently needs funds. Please click on: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/DBOGAHowthLifeboat to dob your €5 in. Last year, DBOGA Zoom raised €8,000. Thank you!

The details of this Zoom meeting are:

  • Topic: Cormac Lowth Talk
  • Time: October 28th 2021, at 20.00hrs
  • Link to join the meeting is here 

  • Meeting ID: 857 6481 9985
  • Passcode: 413443
WM Nixon

About The Author

WM Nixon

Email The Author

William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven’t put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full–time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Direct Donation to Afloat button

Dublin Bay Old Gaffers

The Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association aims to promotes interest in traditional gaff rig and seamanship, to offer help, advice and comradeship to members and to organise races and rallies for members in the Dublin Bay Area. 

The Dublin Bay Old Gaffers normally organise a regatta, two rallies and four races during the summer season and a varied, interesting and well-supported series of talks during the winter (proceeds raised are donated to the RNLI). 

Many Dublin Bay members also travel to regattas and rallies organised by other Irish Sea OGA areas. 

While the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers activities are focused on  Dublin Bay, they also have a cluster of members in the Cork area and have members from all over Ireland and some in Britain too.

The Association is working up lans to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2023.  In 2013 a fleet of boats set off around the UK and Ireland to celebrate OGA50.