"There are points at which history and geography meet, and where history provides material that geography alone can weave into shape." So began William Spotswood Green in his lecture to the Royal Geographical Society on February 9 1906. Republished here is the print version taken from The Geographical Journal, No. V, May 1906, Vol. XXVII. Green was uniquely placed to be able to speak about the Spanish Armada through his experiences as a naturalist, a marine biologist, as well as being the Chief Inspector of Irish Fisheries at the time. Combining his intimate knowledge of the Irish coastline with Spanish, English and Irish sources Green provides a fascinating insight in to the fate of many of the ships of the armada as well as the crews. Tracing the courses of the surviving ships of the Armada after the English escort returned home, Green is able to surmise why they sailed so close to the notoriously dangerous Irish Atlantic Sea coast and pinpoint the resting places of many of the ships which took shelter there. Having visited many of the areas numerous in his capacity as Chief Inspector Green was able to describe some of the items that were recovered by locals, including chests and guns, and see some of the actual remains of ships at low tides. For anyone with an interest in the Spanish Armada and the doom of many of the ships on the Irish coast this is an essential read. Green's knowledge and experience provide a wealth of information and help re-tell the last days of so many who met their end on the Irish coast as well as the lucky few who made it to shore.
"Spainish" Armada?? Is that a deliberate mis-spelling?