The Spanish Armada

Discover more about life in the time of Elizabeth I through the amazing story of the fleet of ships sent by Spain to conquer England in 1588. The attempt ended in failure with many of the ships, including the Girona, being wrecked off the Irish coast.

We have a unique collection of gold, silver, weapons, clothing and belongings from the Girona wreck, which give us a fascinating glimpse into life during this period. There’s an opportunity to try on replica dress for men and women from Elizabeth’s court and your class can relive medical care of the time when a lucky classmate gets treatment for a broken arm! Then you can visit the Armada gallery where they will see the amazing artefacts found in the Girona wreck.