Come along and enjoy a fun-filled family day and kick off the summer holidays at the Magnus Vikings event at the Ballydugan encampment in Downpatrick
For the fourth year, the Magnus Vikings Association will be running a fun-filled Viking experience of two days at the Viking encampment at Ballygugan near Downpatrick.
The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday 27th-28th June running from 12 noon to 5pm.
Local around 30-40 local Viking re-enactors supported with Vikings from the south of Ireland, will provide a window into life around over 1000 years ago in Ireland where they settled.
The wooden encampment on the banks of Ballydugan Lake will once again be the scene of pitched battles as Vikings demonstrate their fighting skills with various weapons such as axes, swords and spears, and show how the shield wal operates.
And young would-be Vikings can get in on the act as they get a chance to attack the shield wall of the adult Vikings with their smaller shields and wooden swords etc. This is one of the highlights of the weekend as the children turn into ferocious Vikings for a few minutes.
Peter McConcille, spokesperson for the Magnus Vikings, said: “There will be demonstrations of the varios weapons the Vikings used and the popular sword fights and battles will take place too.
“This year we are providing small round shields for the children which they can decorate themselves with their own emblems etc. This will definitely get the young ones involved.
“But on a quieter note, there will be the Living History side of the weekend where the visitors can see jewelery makers (and even buy a few trinkets), and see what the Vikings ate and drank.
“There wil be someone on hand showing the mead made with honey that was drank in days of yore.
“And there will be various crafts people there, from weapon makers to cooks showing off pickles and jams, and those who provide clothing from sheepskins etc.
“It is a fun-filled and popular weekend. We hope to have Dave the Rave there with his pet raven which sits on his shoulder just like a parrot, and also there will be two wolfhounds coming from Meath in the outside encampment wall with a ‘throne’ where families can take a photo.
“It’s a great way to start the summer holidays as the children will be off at that point. And there are toilets on site too for the visitors.”
Peter added: “We are looking forward once again to welcoming everyone. This event has grown in popularity in recent years and a good attendance is expected.”
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