The Lost Armada

Des Ekin, author, journalist and historian, gave a well received address to the Club Monday 10 October on his book "The Lost Armada" which chronicles the 1601 Siege of Kinsale particularly highlighting the personalities' of the protagonists and how the siege unfolded and ended. His graphic and illuminating account brought alive the 100 days that changed history and the courage and endurance of the 3 different colourful commanders - Spanish commander General Don Juan del Águila, the English General Charles Blount and the Irish insurgent chieftain Hugh O'Neill who had little in common except in one vital respect that for each of the three men, this conflict was "a last chance saloon".