Kinnagoe to host gathering to remember Archie Jack 

A gathering is to take place at Kinnagoe Bay to mark the first anniversary of the passing of Archie Jack, one of the divers who discovered the wreck of La Trinidad Valencera in 1971 and who would make the Inishowen beach his spiritual home.

The gathering on Wednesday evening has been organised by local people along with family and friends of Mr Jack, who passed away in his sleep while camping at the beach last summer aged 84.

His discovery of a cannon from the Spanish Armada ship, which sank in the bay in September 1588, led to the location of the wreck.

A memorial area has been created at the beach by locals in honour of the Strabane native who camped at the beach for most of the summer months. Such was his love of the spectacular bay, he had his honeymoon and his 80th birthday party there.

Chirs Wolfe, a friend of Mr Jack, said the memorial area includes the flying of the Spanish flag and the 1588 cross of Burgundy naval flag, a bench made by his son Staten on the spot where he died, a wall made from stones from the beach and a plaque with Mr  Jack’s quote: “I found my God and peace at Kinnagoe Bay.”

“This was all done by people from the local community - they all had some connection with him in some shape or form,”Mr Wolfe said. 

The gathering, which is taking place at 7.30pm on August 21,  will be  an opportunity for people to come together “to share stories of Archie and of his past deeds”.

“When he was there in his tent if any strangers came up he would have called them over and he just loved people sitting down and chatting and telling stories.”