Spanish Point, County Clare

History

On the coast, 2.5 km from Milltown Malbay, Spanish Point was named after the Spanish who died here in 1588, when many ships of the Spanish Armada were wrecked during stormy weather. Those who escaped from their sinking ships and made it safely to land were later executed by Sir Turlough O'Brien of Liscannor and Boethius Clancy, High Sheriff of Clare.

It was not known by the English authorities in Ireland whether the Spanish sailed this way around Ireland because their ships were damaged and the storm prevented them from sailing back the quick way or if it was part of a Spanish plan to invade Ireland. Despite this, there was no archaeological evidence for the claim until 2015 when a group of historians investigating the location of the wreck of San Marcos stated they had found a mass grave under Spanish Point which contained the bodies of the executed Spanish sailors.

Hotel

Spanish Point is home of the Atlantic Hotel which was built in 1810 and was promoted as the largest hotel in the British Isles. The hotel closed in 1930 as it had relied upon members of the British nobility visiting for income. This was as a result of the Irish War of Independence and subsequent establishment of the Irish Free State that dissuaded the wealthy from travelling to Spanish Point.

Sport

Spanish Point has a nine-hole golf course which was founded in 1896, making it one of the oldest courses in Ireland.

Spanish Point Beach has Blue Flag Status, with facilities and free parking, and is a top surfing spot in Clare. Celtic Surf School is based here.

References

References

1. "Census Interactive Map – Towns: Spanish Point". [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland).
2. "Rinn na Spáinneach/Spanish Point". Government of Ireland.
3. O'Brien, John. "The Other Clare". Clare County Library.
4. Westropp, T.J.. (1911). "An Alleged Relic of the Spanish Armada in Co. Clare". Jstor.
5. "Possible evidence of Spanish Armada mass grave found in Clare". The Clare Herald.
6. (2015-11-06). "Historians may have discovered a mass grave from the Spanish Armada". The Journal.
7. "Burial site of the Spanish Armada's crew found". The Olive Press.
8. Kerrigan, Jo. (2018). "Follow the Old Road: Discover the Ireland of Yesteryear.". O'Brien Press.
9. Talty, Martin. (2013). "As We Met... Local and Cultural History Kilfarboy 1880-1980 Told through the life of Martin Talty". Brid Talty.
10. [http://www.golfinginireland.ie/clubs_courses/clare/spanish_point.htm Golf course Spanish Point] {{webarchive. link. (2012-03-09)