Magnus Barelegs Viking Festival, Killyleagh 12 to 14 May 2006

The Vikings are coming!!!

The Killyleagh Magnus Barelegs Viking festival is attracting Vikings from far and wide. Hoards of Vikings are travelling from as far as Norway and Poland, together with regular visitors from England, the Isle of Man and local Viking groups.

The result is a fearsome assemblage of Vikings taking part in numerous action packed activities over the three days of the festival. Starting from Friday the 12th through to Sunday the 14th of May.

Harold Skoghein, leader the Hookaan Hookaanssoon Vikings Association from Bergen in Norway said, "We are very much looking forward to visiting the Magnus Barelegs Festival in Killyleagh and Delamont. My warriors are in training for the 'Viking Trial of Strength' and have particularly well developed skills in leg wrestling and Viking wife carrying. Our rowing team is also looking forward to the challenge of competing in the longship races in Killyleagh on the Sunday."

Anita Gribben, Communications officer for the event said, "There is so much for children to see and do at this year's Festival. They can learn the secrets of Viking battle tactics or have a go at archery under the supervision of a master archer. They can make their own Viking costumes and try out their skills at a game of Viking skittles. There will be falconry displays and treasure hunts. Not to mention a spectacular battle and the burning of a Viking funeral boat, on the Sunday is the Viking Parade, longship racing, craft fair plus much more! It is a unique opportunity to see Viking life thrillingly evoked in a host of action-pact activities."

The Magnus Vikings Association and the Killyleagh Social partnership are running this year's event together and plan to build on the success of previous years. Full details of the three days of activities can be see on their website www.killyleagh.org/magnus

We are expecting between 25 and 30 teams to enter the longboat races on Sunday in Killyleagh. One of the teams, the Nationwide Building Society from Swindon, are coming back for their third year. Tim Plummer, Head of Property Services at Nationwide said of the last two years events, "This is the best team building event we have ever had. The team had a great time and when they came back last year they couldn't stop talking about the experience."

The longships will be featured in a Channel 4 documentary on April 22nd when teams of rowers from Oxford and Cambridge Universities with Skippers from the Magnus Vikings raced across the North Sea. The same Skippers will be in charge of the longships at the festival.

There are still some places available for teams in the races so if you are interested in taking part contact the organisers at killyboat@focused.ie or on 028 44 821 461. As Anita says, "You don't have to be able to row, we supply the boats and the coaching. All you have to do is find 10 volunteers who want to have some fun and put something back into the community."

While the event is not a charity event itself, each of the teams can raise sponsorship and donate it to good causes. The Killyleagh Youth Development Group is one of the causes recommended by the organisers.

Notes for editor

The Magnus Vikings Association is a group of Viking enthusiasts who aim to create awareness in their local area of its rich Viking heritage. They achieve this by playing an integral part in local festivals such as the annual Magnus Barelegs Festival, organising Viking longboat races for charity events, corporate teambuilding, providing living history displays and school visits.

The Killyleagh Social Partnership is a cross community group dedicated to organising events in the Killyleagh area to promote social cohesion and develop the local economy by bringing tourism and visitors into the town. This is the third year that they have organised Viking events in the town and last year they ran the very successful Trafalgar commemoration.

This is the sixth year of the Magnus Barelegs Viking Festival. The Magnus Vikings Association have been heavily involved in its organisation from its inception and the Killyleagh Social Partnership have been organising the Killyleagh boat races for the last two years. This year Down District Council, who previously ran the Magnus Barelegs Viking Festival, has handed it over to the two groups to run in partnership.

For further information contact: magnusvikings@hotmail.co.uk or Tel: 078 37 408 663