A unique maritime spectacle will bring the story of the Spanish Armada back to the Donegal coast this Monday, July 13.
The world’s largest Spanish galleon replica,
El Galeón Andalucía, is due to visit
Mullaghderg Bay, Kincasslagh, on Monday,
13 July 2026, in what promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime maritime spectacle for west Donegal.
The vessel is visiting Ireland as part of its 2026 European tour, travelling as a floating museum of Spanish maritime history and Andalusian culture.
Local history in Donegal records that a Spanish Armada vessel ran aground near Mullaghderg in 1588, with the beach’s
Spanish Rock still associated with that story.
Members of the crew will lay a wreath to honour the sailors lost on the Donegal coast. There will also be a cannon salute.
The idea to bring the vessel to Mullaghderg came from local man John Gallagher, known as
John Paddy Óg, who had visited
El Galeón Andalucía while it was in Derry, as part of this year’s Maritime Festival. On 24 June, while out walking at
Mullach Dearg Strand, he stopped at the monument at
the head of the strand, close to the boardwalk.
The memorial recalls four girls who drowned at the beach on 13 July 1972. Students Máire Grae, 14, from Sutton, Dublin, Catherine Carrol, 13, of Clones Road in Monaghan and Susan O’Reilly, 14, and Bernadette McCabe, 14, who were from both Fermanagh Terrace in Clones, had been attending Gaeltacht colleges in the area.
That moment of remembrance led him to think about the Spanish sailors who were lost off Mullaghderg in 1588, and about the possibility of marking that history while the galleon was still in Irish waters.
He said:
“Wouldn't it be some catch to get the galleon to do a fly by, as I called it, on their way back from Sligo. I contacted my friend, John Joe McBride, and that's how it started.”
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Calls were then made to BBC NI journalist, Kevin Sharkey, Donegal TD Pat the Cope Gallagher, helping to get the ball rolling and turn the idea into a planned visit to the Donegal coast.
The vessel’s planned arrival will mark exactly 54 years from the tragic incident involving the four Irish teenagers.
It is expected to arrive at Kincasslagh from midday to mid-afternoon, subject to weather and sea conditions, offering people across the Rosses and the wider Donegal coast a rare chance to see the galleon at sea.
Public coastal viewing will be possible from suitable vantage points including
Arranmore, Cruit Island, Gweedore, Gola Island, Kincasslagh, Mullaghderg, Owey Island and other coastal locations, with members of the public asked to view safely and follow any local guidance on the day.
Further information is available from:
John Paddy Og Gallagher — 087 146 1995
John Joe Mc Bride — 086 879 7458