There is disappointment being expressed in Co Clare at the decision by Lord Inchiquin, Conor O'Brien, to sell at auction a 430-year-old table that was made from wood from the Spanish Armada.

Mr O'Brien said that he has to sell the table for financial reasons but the community in Spanish Point, who have strong links to the Spanish Armada, are asking the state to step in to keep the historic table in Ireland.

In the autumn of 1588 as many as 27 ships of the Spanish Armada were lost off the Irish coast, two of them were lost off the west Clare coast.

After their sinking the timber from the ships started to come ashore. The high sheriff of Clare recovered some of the decorative carvings from the galleon, which were then made into a 3m table.

The table was at Dromoland Castle, home of the O'Brien, clan for over 300 years until it was moved to Bunratty Castle in the 1960's.

Recently the table was removed from Bunratty by crane as Mr O'Brien plans to sell it at auction.





He said that the sale was a great source of personal sadness to him but that he was left with no other option due to financial reasons.

Chair of Spanish Point Community Group Marian Treacy said there is a sense of disgust in the area that the table will be sold as it is part of local heritage and history and it should stay in Ireland, if not Co Clare.

John Burke, of the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point, said the loss of one of the biggest items that connected Clare with the Armada will be a big disappointment.

The Armada table, described as the most famous piece of 16th century furniture in existence in Ireland, is scheduled for auction next month by Adams auctioneers with an estimated price tag of around €100,000.