Takes Place
Ireland’s largest ever Viking invasion will take place at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Co. Clare, from Saturday 28th June to Sunday 29th June ’08 (inclusive). Over 100 Viking warriors from all over Europe will invade the popular tourist attraction 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.
Over 100 Viking re-enactors including the Award winning Fingal Living History Society, in full Viking costume, 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.
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. The Folk Park’s two new 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 11.00 am until 5.00 pm at Bunratty Castle on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June. Viking Warriors, in full armour, will demonstrate their fighting skills throughout the weekend. There will be two main battles at 12 noon and 4.00 pm daily, with smaller battles, and one on one combat throughout the day.
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 28th and Sunday 29th of June from 2.00 pm until 4.00 pm.
