Spanish Armada film in production

Spanish Armada Film Tells of De Cuéllar’s Adventures in Sligo and Leitrim

Filming took place throughout last week in Sligo and Leitrim of a Spanish Armada short film which highlights the adventures of one Spanish Armada survivor – Captain Francisco de Cuéllar.

Three Spanish Armada ships were wrecked at Streedagh Beach in Sligo during Winter storms. While over 1,000 sailors and soldiers died as a result, a number did manage to escape, among them de Cuéllar, who managed to write the entire account of his travels once he reached safety, having spent seven months trekking through various parts of Ireland while trying to escape.

The film was produced to highlight this incredible story. With funding from the Town & Village Renewal Fund and the support of Sligo County Council, Dublin-based company Mediacoop produced the film, supported by Sligo-based production company Omedia, as well as a host of local actors, production staff and technicians. The film was directed by Al Butler and features Spanish actor Fernando Corral in the title role of Francisco de Cuéllar.

Filmed over four days, locations included Streedagh Beach, Staad Abbey, Glencar, Rossclogher, Castletown and elsewhere, locations which are mentioned in de Cuéllar’s writings. Additional scenes were filmed at Hazelwood and Parke’s Castle – with the kind permission of Coillte and the OPW.

With the location work now complete, the film will next enter the post production phase, where scenes will be edited, and additional graphical and CGI (computer generated imagery) will be added.

Chair of Spanish Armada Ireland, Eddie O’Gorman, the group that commissioned the film, is delighted with how the production is coming along. “The film shoot last week was wonderful, it was a delight for all of us associated with the Armada to see the story receive such a professional treatment. The cast and crew had huge challenges to face – not least from the weather – and I’d like to thank them all personally for doing such a professional job in challenging circumstances.”

One of the film’s producers Micheál Ó Domhnaill added that “this was a huge effort, one which involved the expertise provided by the Mediacoop and Omedia teams and which has drawn enormous interest in the Spanish Armada project locally. This film will give us the opportunity to give the Spanish Armada a new dimension and help raise the profile of the story on the international stage.”

It is expected that film will launch in late April or early May. The finished film will be screened at the Spanish Armada Visitor Centre in Grange, Co. Sligo, as well as online. The entire film production process is expected to have been completed by the start of the Summer season.

More details on SpanishArmadaIreland.com.