The memorial stone in Galway has been there for five years or more it s a sort of curled up granite representation of a galleon about the size of a soccer ball Some crusty used to spray paint it every year with a rant about the destruction of the native Americans Whether or not the story of his visit to Galway Columbus not the crusty is true it is not far fetched prior to the plantation period Iberian links with the south and west coasts of Ireland were very strong the west coast was used as a base by Spanish and Portuguese boats for their Newfoundland fisheries from the 15thC prior to it s destruction in the Desmond Wars in 1580 Dingle was described as a Spanish built town And I think it s documented that Columbus had an Irish pilot on board during his Caribbean voyages What article does this discussion link to