Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Co. Clare, will once again be the venue for Ireland’s largest ever Viking invasion which will take place at the popular visitor attraction from Saturday 27th June to Sunday 28th June ’09 (inclusive). Over 100 Viking warriors from all over Europe will storm Bunratty for what promises to be a magical Viking Festival of mayhem and fun. Fighting is expected to be hot and heavy but unlike historic battles of yesteryear there will be no blood spilt.
The re-enactment event is being organised for the 6th year by Shannon Heritage, Shannon Development’s tourism subsidiary company, and has been designed to give visitors a unique insight into what life was like in Viking times.
The Viking re-enactors, including the Award winning Fingal Living History Society, will be joined by Viking re-enactors from Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, Poland and Iceland. To create a real sense of living conditions at that time the re-enactors will literally move into the grounds of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park for the weekend event. They will work, cook, eat, fight and sleep on site.
New this year will be a Viking fighting tournament where the entire complement of 100 warriors, in full armour, fighting it out in a competition style tournament. On Saturday the tournament of arms will take place at 12 noon and 4.00 pm and will be staged in two arenas to accommodate the large number of warriors who will fight it out to be declared ‘Viking Champion’. There will be two main battles on Sunday at 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm with smaller battles, and demonstrations of one to one combat throughout both days. Another new feature this year will be a Robin Hood style archery event starting at 12 noon on Saturday.
“We are delighted that visitors to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park will be given a unique opportunity to step back in time to witness life in a Viking village. The popular Viking weekend is an addition to the Shannon Heritage annual calendar of events which run to enhance visitor experience at our rich portfolio of heritage attractions. Visitors can already experience life in mediaeval times at Bunratty Castle and also life in 19th century Ireland at Bunratty Folk Park. We are fortunate to have secured so many Viking re-enactors who will bring a lot of fun, knowledge and expertise to the spectacle and enjoy nothing better than interacting with the public to answer any questions they may have about this colourful period in history,” says John Ruddle, Chief Executive, Shannon Heritage.
A Viking tented village comprising 20 tents will provide craft displays including; bone carving, leather work, children’s games, weapons display, armour display, chain mail making, shield making, bronze casting, coin making, finger braiding, and wood work. Tablet weaving, a form of weaving which goes back to approx. 1000 BC., will also be on display.
There will also be a cooking site where ancient cooking methods will be demonstrated including, bread making and roasting a pig on a spit. There will also be falconry displays throughout the weekend with visitor being given an opportunity to see golden eagles, vultures, hawks and owls in flight. The Folk Park’s two resident Irish wolfhounds, Fionn and Grainne, will also be onsite to add their own bit of colour to the festivities.
The action packed event will take place from 11.30 am until 5.00 pm at Bunratty Castle on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June.
There will be a treat in store for the younger visitors who will get an opportunity to see the Noel Lambert Puppet Theatre perform their International hit show “Puppet Circus” back after sell out tours in the Middle East, in the Folk Park on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of June from 2.00 pm until 4.00 pm.
For further enquiries about the event at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, please call Shannon Heritage at Tel: +353 (0)61-360788, or visit www.shannonheritage.com
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Nandi O’Sullivan
Senior Press Officer
Tel: +353 61 710259
Mobile: +353 86-2371510
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