25 June 1997
"Treasure Hunters" fear as Armada ship is found
Exclusive by Tom Shiel
A HUGE anchor, believed to be from a vessel of the Spanish Armada which went down off Achill Island in 1588, has been recovered and there are hopes that a major operation can be mounted to salvage artefacts from the ship which are likely to be excellently preserved in a sandbank.
Armada experts are excited by the discovery because the anchor, which weighs several tons, and its wooden stock are in superb condition. They have called for the declaration of the area off Corraun Peninsula where the San Nicholas Prodanelli went down as a national heritage site in order to prevent possible plundering and looting.
The anchor find has been a well kept secret among a small group of people for just over four years and only now, after analysis and research, can the anchor be said with some certainty to belong to an Armada vessel.
ANALYSIS
Further scientific analysis of a hemp like material attached to part of the anchor must be carried out but one of the best known Irish authorities on Spanish Armada vessels, Mr. Louis Emerson of Ballyshannon, County Donegal says he's quite satisfied it belongs to a vessel of the great fleet which Prince Philip despatched to invade England over four centuries ago.
Mr. Emerson has warned the Achill group that it would be advisable for them to control diving in order to ensure the wreck site is not pillaged by professional treasure hunters. He told the "Connaught Telegraph" last night: "If the location where the anchor was found is declared a national heritage site, then nobody can dive there without permission.
"We had the same problem off the north west coast until we got a court order. Now, only marine archaeologists have the right to investigate the site of Armada wrecks and any artefacts found must be handed over to the State".
Old Admiralty charts pinpoint the spot where the anchor was lifted as very close to the location where the San Nicholas Prodanelli, which carried 355 men and 26 cannon, foundered.
In May 1993, following complaints from fishermen that their nets were being snagged by a mysterious underwater object, Padraig Kilbane and his son, Darren, along with diver Liam Heffernan, and his brother, Tomas, went to investigate. After diving, Mr. Heffernan, the Manager of Clare Island Seafarms, confirmed it was an anchor and the herculean task of lifting it began.
PRESERVED
Until recently, on the advice of preservation experts, the anchor and wooden stock, was kept soaked in a mountain stream in order to get rid of sea-water.
Chemicals have been obtained for the final preservation process and there are plans to put the anchor on display at some suitable location on the approach road to Darby's Point where it would undoubtedly be a major tourist attraction.
It was initially thought the anchor might belong to the De Bille vessel which brought a contingent of Danes to Newport in the mid 18th century but this has now firmly been ruled out.
The find is described by Mr. Louis Emerson as "remarkable" because of the fine state of preservation of the anchor after such a long period underwater.
When the metal and timber got the final coat of preservative, Achill Island will have one of the finest Armada artefacts in the British Isles.
Local schoolteacher, Tom Johnstone is trying to find an agreed site where the anchor can be mounted on display and hopes that a FAS team will be put in place to assist the initiative.
