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Historians may have discovered a mass grave from the Spanish Armada

The find comes as part of a project designed to find the wreck of the San Marcos galleon

A TEAM OF EXPLORERS have found a possible mass grave from the time of the Spanish Armada.

The San Marcos Project made the find after conducting a geophysical survey at the site of Tuama Na Spainneach in Spanish Point in Co Clare.

“It is definitely a big step for the project,” said project volunteer Dr John Treacy.

“Obviously we haven’t got conclusive proof yet but we will hopefully carry out a test excavation next year.

If this turns out to be true then it proves that there is a certain substance to the old legends from the local area … and this leaves us with a lot of hope for finding the shipwreck itself.”

The study forms part of an ongoing effort to find sites related to the San Marcos, a Portuguese galleon which participated in the Armada campaign.

spanishpoint Spanish Point, Co Clare Google Maps Google Maps

The latest find includes evidence of large underground caverns thought to be of the type used to bury bodies during the time of the Armada.

“If what we believe is correct then we are talking about quite a significant find as it would’ve taken 20 people digging for a day to make just one of these structures,” Treacy added.

However it’s not just history that has fuelled Treacy’s interest in the project.

“I come from Spanish Point myself and as a child we would’ve always been told not to walk across the area because it was known as a burial site.

“It would be the first ever Spanish Armada grave so as both a historian and a local of the area this is incredibly exciting for me.

“If we could prove that this is a grave connected to the Spanish Armada then it would finally prove some evidence as to where Spanish Point gets its name.”

The team now hope to carry out further investigations at the site although it is unknown how long such a dig out would take.

“We don’t know how long this would take as if we found human remains then it is a matter which falls to the gardaí as they would need to be sure that any bodies were not part of something more sinister.”

The latest survey, which was financially supported by the Heritage Council, is aimed at identifying possible targets which may represent the buried remains of those lost on the San Marcos and San Esteban when both vessels foundered off-shore in September 1588.

However the future of the project hinges on whether or not the team of volunteers can secure funding.

“Our progress so far has been amazing considering the fact that we are have very limited resources and we are all volunteers.

“But now we need to find a way of securing funding.

“If we can manage to do that then I’m confident we can achieve what we’ve set out to do.” he added.

The Spanish Armada was a fleet of 130 ships that sailed from A Coruña in August 1588 with the purpose of escorting an army from Flanders to invade England. Between 17 and 24 of the Armada’s ships are reputed to have wrecked off the coast of Ireland

Read: Guns from the Spanish Armada have just been found off the Irish coast>

Read: A Spanish Armada cannonball just showed up on an Irish beach>

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve Clery
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    Nov 21st 2013, 7:26 AM

    Glad to see the folks are back to work though.

    145
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    Mute Trevor Devlin
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    Nov 21st 2013, 8:26 AM

    “I can see Clearys now the rain has gone”

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    Mute Brian O'Grady
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    Nov 21st 2013, 8:08 AM

    Great to see a Dublin landmark reopen well done clearys

    106
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    Mute Hugh Flood
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    Nov 21st 2013, 10:20 AM

    There are some things that become landmarks in your life.
    One of mine was a visit to Santa in Clerys back in the 1930s.
    I got a blue telescope.

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    Mute Paul Cathy Lynam
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    Nov 21st 2013, 8:28 AM

    The only Santa’s grotto to visit in Dublin just remember the excitement of going and the sheer delight of the whole grotto it was truly magical and a day off school to boot and a trip on the number 3 from Whitehall had to be upstairs at the front thanks Santa

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    Mute OU812
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    Nov 21st 2013, 10:30 AM

    Nope, that would be Arnotts.

    No charge, no rush, entertainment & refreshments all day long & Santa looks the same in every year’s photo (beard is real too)

    5
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    Mute Simon O'
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    Nov 21st 2013, 9:09 AM

    Good to see.
    ThE heart has been pulled out of the city centre the last decade with monuments to the social insecure like Dundrum S.C. being built.
    Lets hope the american owners of clerys spend their remaining couple of years re buildimg the clerys experience before they inevitably cash in their inverstment?
    Who will be running clerys by 2016?
    Paddy McKillen? John Lewis? House of Frasier?

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    Mute Matt
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    Nov 21st 2013, 12:03 PM

    John Lewis bought a large site on the other side of the street.

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    Mute Charlie & Alex's Da
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    Nov 21st 2013, 7:39 AM

    Who cares?

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    Mute Cheeky Bums
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    Nov 21st 2013, 8:09 AM

    Boo!

    You obviously cared enough to comment.

    Happy red thumb day to you, sir!

    104
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    Mute Lauren Halligan
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    Nov 21st 2013, 8:54 AM

    The people who work there do. The people who like to shop there do.

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    Mute marily
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    Nov 21st 2013, 10:31 AM

    The people who work there for a start.

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    Mute Tim Hayes
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    Nov 21st 2013, 12:01 PM

    Lovely to see Cleary’s back, O’Connell Street was just not the same without it. Best wishes to all involved especially the wonderfull staff, you were missed. Looking forward to dropping in later.

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    Mute Steve-O
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    Nov 21st 2013, 7:23 AM

    *GASP*! They’re named like my name!

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    Mute SAFEASHOUSES
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    Nov 21st 2013, 4:24 PM

    Hurrah!
    They might be able to pay back some of their creditors then?

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    Mute DublinEntendre
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    Nov 21st 2013, 12:03 PM

    They’re on the wrong side of the street in fairness. That side of O’Connell street is mainly full of druggies hanging around these days.

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    Mute Mary Dunne
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    Nov 21st 2013, 12:47 PM

    I have heard the whole of OConnell street is a no go area now with druggies and beggers. No law or order on the streets and getting very dangerous day and night on our capital’s main street

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    Mute Neil Richardson
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    Nov 21st 2013, 9:46 AM

    To a non-Dub who’s never set foot in the place, what exactly is the main draw of Cleary’s? One of those places I’ve heard about but don’t know about.

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    Mute Steve Clery
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    Nov 21st 2013, 10:01 AM

    Would you believe I’m the same? Not a clue!

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    Mute Matt
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    Nov 21st 2013, 12:01 PM

    You mean you never saw Clearys christmas window?

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    Mute Eliza Mac
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    Nov 22nd 2013, 2:12 AM

    Half of Dublin must have visited Santa in Cleary’s. I remember the excitement standing in line to meet the main man. Then there’s Cleary’s clock, the place to meet your date. I arranged to meet a cousin there one time… she was late, so I had to put up with lads wandering past, chanting “Stood up, stood up!” I was a divil for the Cleary’s sales in me day, now I’m poor and shop in Pennys. But it’s good to see it up and running again.

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    Mute Maria Clery-Breen
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    Nov 21st 2013, 5:13 PM

    It’s CLERYS not Clearys

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    Mute Sheila Lynch
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    Nov 21st 2013, 5:20 PM

    My mom went shopping for Christmas every year on December 8th in Cleary,s went on the train from Wexford.we had many toys and PJ,s from that lovely Store. Also had many a date there.

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    Mute Graham Hickey
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    Nov 21st 2013, 10:22 PM

    Clerys was designed in 1918 following destruction in 1916 – not 1853. That was the original Delany’s New Mart ‘Monster Store’.

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