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'Armada gun belongs in
Inishowen'
19.05.10
A Spanish Armada cannon
found off the coast of Kinnego Bay could be housed
in the Inishowen Maritime Museum if lobbying by a
local senator is successful.
Senator Cecilia Keaveney said she had received a
number of approaches for the cannon, reclaimed from
'La Trinidad Valencera' shipwreck, to be brought
back home. |
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A gun was first taken
to the National Museum in Dublin for conservation
and is now part of the 'Soldiers and Chiefs'
exhibition at Collins Barracks. Other items
recovered from the wreck are housed in the Ulster
Museum, Belfast.
"We have always felt that, contrary to policy as it
currently stands, these locally recovered artefacts
should, where possible, be displayed close to where
they were found. There may have been an argument
years ago when we had no museum to display them in,
but the Maritime Museum in Greencastle has gone from
strength-to-strength," she said.
"I do recognise that Minister Hanafin has said that,
while the cannon is part of a permanent exhibition,
it could be loaned temporarily, subject to the
borrowers being able to fulfil the museum's loan
requirements."
The Moville-based representative said it was
difficult to attract cultural tourists when all the
major artefacts of interest were held in the biggest
population centres including Dublin.
"It is therefore now a chance for Greencastle, and
indeed other museums in the county to look to
reclaiming, even on a temporary basis, items with
important local stories of their own. I am in
contact with Inishowen Maritime Museum in relation
to the feasibility of meeting those criteria," she
added. |
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