Spanish Armada in Ireland Spanish Armada in Ireland The Spanish Armada in Ireland refers to the landfall made upon the coast of Ireland in September 1588 of a large portion of the 130-strong fleet sent by Philip II to invade England. Following its defeat at the naval battle of Gravelines the Armada had attempted to return home through the North Atlantic, when it was driven from its course by violent storms, toward the west coast of Ireland. The prospect of a Spanish landing alarmed the Dublin government of Queen Elizabeth I, which prescribed harsh measures for the Spanish invaders and any Irish who might
Spanish Armada the anchored Armada to create panic) prevailed.". The expedition was the largest engagement of the undeclared Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604). The following year, England organised a similar large-scale campaign against Spain, the English Armada or "counter-Armada of 1589", which was also unsuccessful. The word "armada" is from the Spanish "armada", which is a cognate with English "army". Originally from the Latin "armāta", the past participle of "armāre" (to arm), used in Romance languages as a noun, for "armed force", "army", "navy", "fleet". "Armada Española" is still the Spanish term for the modern Spanish Navy. "Armada" (originally from its armadas) was also