Spanish Armada Festival: Sligo Commemorates Streedagh Shipwrecks

28th August 2023

The Spanish Armada Festival Remembrance Parade, where people are invited to walk a trail to pay tribute to those lost in the tragedy. Over 1,100 men lost their lives at Streedagh during the shipwrecks, one of the greatest maritime tragedies to have taken place on the Irish coast

The annual Spanish Armada festival returns this September for the 14th consecutive year and will occur in Grange, Streedagh, Cliffoney and Sligo Town. With lots of events taking place covering arts, history, culture, music and the spoken word, Remembering the Armada is a great weekend event for all to enjoy this 14th-17th September 2023.

Three Spanish Armada ships sank at Streedagh beach in September 1588, and over the past fourteen years, locals in Grange have welcomed Spanish visitors from far and wide to Sligo for the annual Armada commemoration.

(Above and below) Sligo's annual Spanish Armada festival returns on September 14th with some dramatic reconstruction and commemoration

This year's event will run over four days from Thursday, Sept 14 – Sunday, Sept 17th. Day one will feature a bus tour to Killybegs Harbour to commemorate the 1588 Armada and will include a reception attended by officers and ratings from the visiting Oceanic Patrol Vessel Centinela.

The main event is the Remembrance Parade on Saturday, where people are invited to walk a trail from to pay tribute to those lost in the tragedy. Over 1,100 men lost their lives at Streedagh during the shipwrecks, one of the greatest maritime tragedies to have taken place on the Irish coast.

(Above and below) The Spanish Armada remembrance parade and wreath laying ceremony

Over the course of the weekend, numerous activities will take place both day and night. The Opening Concert will feature the renowned De Cuéllar Quartet, a musical ensemble that will play the music of the wonderful De Cuéllar Suite composed by Michael Rooney and accompanied by spoken word performances. For those who like to get out and about, there will be a Sligo City historical tour, and we'll also bring you along sections of the De Cuéllar Trail. Budding artists are invited to two special art events, ‘Armadascapes’ and ‘Hold The Line’ at Streedagh. The ever-popular Céilí and Armada Clubs will have you dancing late into the night.

The Spanish Armada Festival 8k Fun Run/Walk

The Spanish Armada Festival Heritage Tour

In addition, there will be exhibitions at the Visitor Centre in Grange as well as re-enactments at various locations. On Sunday, the 8k Fun Run/Walk will help you shake off the cobwebs, and there will be a beach clean and a series of Climate lectures to finish off the event.

Event and ticket details here

Published in Maritime Festivals

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Spanish Armada

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