This is even more the case when a committee are funding us with expenses.
They expect quality in return. We can't just kick the ball around for our own amusement, we have to be aware of what the client wants and expects to get. The clients, whether they be festival committees or Heritage Park managers are becoming more demanding. As we are all aware, there is a very high standard of re-enactment in Britain. Our clients are aware of this too
and show organisers will often travel to English Heritage shows as part of
their preparations. They may well decide to engage British groups in order to get the quality they desire. Although they are several hundred miles away, groups like The Vikings, Regia Anglorum and Conquest are our competitors when it comes to securing early medieval shows in Ireland. In order to compete, we need, at the very least, to match their standards. We are an 'amateur sport' by and large,
but we need to have professional standards.

This means being able to provide a full range of Living History craft
displays as well as combat. Unfortunately, this requires investment by
groups and individuals in authentic tents, equipment, research and skills.
Again, whether we like it or not, authenticity is the yardstick by which we
are judged.

People might not say it to us, but the plastic drinking bottle is noticed
as are modern tools and machine produced items. They come back to haunt us and all it needs is for one committee member to say 'they're not authentic'
in order to lose a show. Things just don't need to 'look right', they need
to be as accurate as we can get them. It is no longer safe to assume that
members of the public won't know the

difference, they will.

They also need to be safe. Our combat displays just as much as a LHE site need to be safe for the public. The last thing any show organiser wants is an accident involving a member of the public. They will pass any claim for damages back to the group or individual involved and if you are shown to have been sloppy about safety then you might have a problem.

The recent guidelines compiled for us by Dave and Ciaran should be the minimum standard for all re-enactors. Responsibility for safety and authenticity is not just for the show organiser but for everyone involved. We have a duty of care to ourselves, each other and to members of the public.

Which brings me back to my original question ' Do you play golf'? I don't and I have no intention to start now. I am quite happy to play 'Viking' or 'Re-enactor' or whatever you like to call it. But I am also aware that we are only as good as our last show and that just as there is a network of
re-enactors, there is a network of Heritage Park managers and Festival
Committees known as AOIFE ( Association of Irish Festivals and Events ).
They compare notes and word of mouth recommendations can lead to shows just as they can lose shows for us. I think this is worth remembering each and every time we go out to play. As the ad says 'Image is everything', so is attitude and a 'bad image' or a 'bad attitude' can leave you re-enacting in your own back garden.

Re-enactment in Ireland is definitely a minority sport pass-time and with
this goes all the disadvantages of being in the minority. If ever you want to
play tennis, just go to the local tennis courts or club. Football, you have
you are spoiled for choice depending on your preference for rules and ball
shapes. Soccer clubs, GAA, rugby are all within easy reach and even if you
don't want to go to such organised levels then simply kick a ball around
the street or beach. No problem, you are socially accepted. Imagine the
looks you would get walking on to a beach with your towel, beach bag and
two or three swords under your arm. Axes might be even better. I expect you would have some very official attention in a short space of time.

Which serves to highlight one of the major problems of the re-enactor -
somewhere to re-enact. In many ways, what we do is close to street theatre
or theatre itself. We tend to draw an audience, we wear a costume, some of
us role play character parts and we frequently use some form of loosely
organised script. In fact, it could be argued that our roots lie with the
wandering players of the medieval period who provided entertainment at the festivals and fairs of the time.

We are, in fact, totally dependent on the festival committees and organisers for venues in which to perform. We depend on their support and approval in the short term for this year's shows, but more importantly for venues in future seasons. In reality, we are only as good as our last show.

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