WATCH: A weekend of Viking warriors in Woodstown
Veara, ready to serve up a healthy meal, at Déise Medieval, Viking Heritage Festival. Photo: Joe Evans
Aonach na nDéise returned to the Woodstown Viking site this past weekend, Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16 as part of this year's heritage week line up.
Déise Medieval, the local amateur history and medieval combat society, performed living history displays and Viking battle reenactments throughout the weekend in both Western and Eastern battle styles, as well as 'Kiddie Vike' battles where kids under 10 took part in their own battle against Déise Medieval's warriors.
Watch the short clip below as Viking warriors battle it out
Archaeologists from The Discovery Programme and Abarta Heritage were also at the weekend festival, discussing the recent dig at Woodstown in June this year and giving a full backstory of excavation works in the area over the last twenty years.
Their stalls invited kids to learn and play, with archaeologists from TVAS Ireland running the popular 'Dig in a Box' attraction, teaching kids more about the work that archaeologists do, what they find and the tools and techniques that they use.
The National Museum of Ireland's education department ran a Viking artefact detective challenge throughout the weekend, allowing guests to explore replica Viking objects to figure out what they were, how they were used, and how they were made.
Kids were also invited to help the archaeologists excavate the replica "Woodstown Warrior" Viking grave.
Sectioned off at the festival site was a recreation of an archaeological dig in Woodstown, which uncovered what archaeologists think may be the biggest Viking Hall found in Ireland so far.
The foundational layout of the hall was cordoned off near the festival entrance, to allow guests to imagine what the structure may have been like back then.
Much of the festival was centered on the everyday lives of Vikings, which reenactors showcased at the living history and craft village, which displayed traditional Viking activities, like spinning and weaving, cooking, spice traders, kids' games and pastimes, witchcraft and medicine and a full weapon display.
Another exciting vendor at this year’s festival was Raven Haven Aviaries.
Run by Shay Cullen, this bird sanctuary offers rescue to native wild birds and small wild animals as well as offering a home to Birds of Prey, with photo opportunities available across the weekend for guests with a variety of owls and the infamous Dave the Raven.
Leitrim based Fuinseog Woodland Crafts also returned to this year's Viking festival, with a fun filled games area for both kids and adults to enjoy themselves with handmade games and traditional Viking games.
