|
|
|
|
|
stood up through my cars sun roof whilst travelling at a sedate 45mph.
Tallaght
This gig had a most novel set up. Three angles on the same period, Viking encampment, Early Christian period Irish ecclesiastic and domestic. Vike round the back of the church and Irish both inside and round the front. It worked well and the display was bang on but suffered a little from the lack of space in the graveyard. The living history food was up with the best I have personally come across. Niamh-Ann and Debbie get full credit for the excellent desert and applause to Barry for the mountain of chicken he fed us. Without Dave none of it would have happened of course as none of the mighty Vikings could light the fire. Spot the Boy Scout amongst us. (Improvise, Adapt, Overcome Ed! Yiz all need to learn to bang the rocks together guys! DM) Boyd and Lynn took care of the Irish section and as always, as we have come to expect from Irish Arms, put on a small but top class display. Displays included; Book of Kells style illustration and calligraphy in the main church structure with domestic displays of textiles and cooking outside. Fun and frolics where had with the local constabulary as most of the lads embarrassed themselves fawning over the Bán Garda detailed to cover public order on site. She did hold her own in the 'Stag wrestling', the ensuing pile-on and the wee Jig with a barefoot Barry. An image none of us will forget for a while I'm sure. EE.
Wexford (2)
We're lucky to have had another 'Wexford' ever again, after it transpired that a number of the parks deer skins went missing from the 'Viking' Long house after the June event. SG is not getting into where these skins went but we do feel it important that people realize that this action, innocent or not, could have finished us all from ever getting in there again and may have impacted upon us on a national scale at other sites.
Not letting this ugliness overshadow the July event G&G did it yet again. Having a rethink about hosting the combat on the cramped Crannoge, we were relocated to the Viking area where the dreaded 'Viking', walking straight out of the sea, raided the 'Vike-Gael' settlement and where met with fierce resistance from man, woman and child alike until the re-enforcement's could arrive. The combat issues from the June show where addressed, with the 'Combat Safety Charter' being put on display with all the relevant areas being highlighted in day-glow pink. LH, again, was excellent and the resident re-enactors (Team SMELT) had developed new domestic skills to compliment a non-camp setting, which really rounded off the display. Dr. Aiden O'Sullivan author of 'Lake settlement in Ireland' was present and was well impressed. The event went off without a hitch and a good time was had by all. DM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tintagle, home of the legendry King Arthur, the legendry amazing Cornish scrumpy, legendry amazing Cornish pasty and of once a year upon the first full weekend in August, the legendry battle of Camlann. A weekend of drinking, fighting, running from the rain, basking in the sun and trying to avoid being eaten by the great white's that occasionally frequent the coastline.
This year the battle of Tintagle promised to be the best and biggest yet. With this in mind a group of 10 Irish re-enactors, some having no idea what to expect, some knowing exactly what to expect set off in search of sun, sea, sand and grotesque amounts of drink and violence. All of which can be found but once a year in this sleepy seaside hamlet perched precariously upon the cliff top.
The weekend lived up to all its hype. Those of us who took part in last years cross-dressing re-enactment antics will never be allowed to live it down. Gentlemen, we should be proud to be the ones who took the traditional silliness of the Friday battle so far that we have led to the banning of all silliness at future battles in Tintagle.
Standard of fighting was, as always, top class. The presence of Chick and co helped this in no small way. All battles were fought in their usual fast and furious way and I am glad to report that all the Irish taking part equipped themselves exceptionally well. One of our party (she knows exactly who she is) fought so well that one of her vanquished foes felt the need cry to his mammy. Yet another example of how big and hard and positively terrifying English re-enactors really are. 'An Englishman's mother is his castle' to mix a metaphor.
All in all a top notch weekend and yours truly is already looking forward to next year. EE. (The one in the sequins. Photo page 6)
Ballyjamesduff
Rain, Rain go away, come again another day…Sod it we'll just go inside. Plagued as we are at times in this country with rain it was great to have a retreat from it at a gig for a change. It was chucking it down when we arrived but we put the tents up anyway. It was decided to do the show in-doors however. The BJD event was based around the Cavan County Museum. Housed in an old nunnery this is a real nice museum. Of most interest to me was the Neolithic poetry display some of which was on loan from the National museum Dublin and some of which I had just got replicas of on loan from the 'Limerick museum' for the upcoming Mountshannon event. It was great to see the real thing and to see it still
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
had the same fine detail as reproduced on the models I had. The event being multi-period LH featuring Viking/Irish woodwork, textiles and weaving, Norman, Galloglass and Kern costumed warriors plus Rapier and Foil fencing display and indoor archery, which was novel. DM
Mountshannon
The campsite originally was a field on the outskirts of the village but due to the kind locals and heavy rain on the Saturday night we were allowed to stay in the village hall (nice and close to pubs - hurrah !)
The site itself was on the village green/party area, our pitch was along one side with plenty of access for the public to see what we were doing (always good). On the day we where to share with other local displays (there was a fair on ). We were allowed to fence out whatever area we needed for the warriors (plenty of safety).
Unfortunately a good part of the living history display didn't turn up so Dave was left a bit high and dry but what was there was good : weaving, spinning wheel and Fergus and Billy worrying an eel on a hot rock.
The warriors had an enjoyable day fighting overslaves (Debbie was returned as used goods mind you the replacement slave boy wasn't much better - Fnar fnar !!!) The main center piece was Swifty running the shield wall drills in Icelandic and nothing else !! This was the best shield wall I have ever had the pleasure to drill/fight in (Swifty spot on I actually learnt a lot and surprisingly still remember it !). I think if more people ran their shield walls like this there would be less accidents and also it would instill a good sense of discipline.
The crowds were very responsive and at one stage I had a child forced upon me to sell as a slave (still not sure if the mother wanted the child back). The children especially liked the warriors but as usual I was asked were the horns on my helmet where (there seems to be a sever problem with the education system if kids still think Vikings had horns on helmets)
The fun and games when off duty were great. On the Friday night those of us who where there early had a good laugh and a few pints at one of the local pubs. On the Saturday, in the local community hall, our new camp site, whilst Ed, Malcolm and I sampled some stout at the local pub, Debbie instructed everyone else in 'Hong Kong fuee chop suey kung fu' or something. As you can imaging as
|
|
|
|
|
|
