The Tower Museum in Derry has received £1.45m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to re-open in 2004 as a museum almost entirely dedicated to the history of one of the largest ships in Spanish Armada, which sank off the coast of Ireland in 1588.

The core exhibits will be artefacts from La Trinidad Valencia, one of the Armada's largest ships. Dermot Francis, Heritage and Museum Programme Organiser with Derry City Council, said: 'Thanks to this major Heritage Lottery Fund award, the city will be able to create the definitive exhibition on the Spanish Armada.'

The HLF grant constitutes 65 per cent of the £2.2m cost of the project. Details: www.hlf.org.uk