A bunch of rough winters in a row and what do you get? Aside from broken pavement and a few days off from school, you obtain … the sunken treasure of a merchant vessel ship called La Juliana, formerly of the Spanish Armada?

Usually not the latter, but that’s precisely what happened on the sands off Ireland’s Streedagh, County Sligo.

Near-ancient wooden timbers from the ship began washing ashore in April. The event lead to the discovery of the site on the ocean floor, where the discovery of cannons and other relics soon followed.

This from the BBC:

The guns date back to 1588, but are said to be in excellent condition. Two have been taken off the seabed.

One bears a dedication to St Matrona, a saint particularly venerated by the people of Catalonia and Barcelona.

It is dated 1570, the year in which La Juliana was built, putting the identity of the ship beyond doubt, the Irish government has said.

Heather Humphreys, minister for arts, heritage and the gaeltacht, has visited the wreck site.

“We have uncovered a wealth of fascinating and highly significant material, which is more than 425 years old,” she said.

“This material is obviously very historically and archaeologically significant.”

Two other vessels from the Armada sank nearby in violent storms in September 1588.

More than 1,000 soldiers and mariners drowned when the La Lavia and Santa Maria de Vision went down.