Viking Boat Race - Press Room

Anyone interested in helping with the organisation of next year's Viking boat races, five mile challenge run or get involved with the Killyleagh Social Partnership, is asked to contact Mr.  Huddleston, telephone (028) 4482 8114.

If there is anyone who feels they can help by providing the sponsorship, whatever the size - contact Tony Davies - (028) 4482 1461 or email killyboat@focused.ie

 

Enjoy the festival by sampling local brew

Down Recorder, Wednesday, 11th May, 2005

The Strangford Lough Brewing Company will again be supplying its Viking brews at this year's Killyleagh Viking boat festival.

Launched for the 2004 event, the Barelegs and Legbiter brews are now popular throughout the year and sold in over 40 outlets throughout Northern Ireland, as well as being distributed in the rest of the United Kingdom.

The Viking brews are even popular with real Vikings and are now on sale in Denmark and Norway. New American markets are are also being sourced.

The beers will be available at the two events organised for this year's festival, including the traditional Friday night folk event on May 27 and the Saturday night Viking Banquet which will feature real Vikings from Bergen in Norway.

The visitors to, Killyleagh will be joined by their counterparts from the Isle of Man and the local Magnus Vikings Association.

Organisers say this year' banquet promises to be even more spectacular and will be staged at Killyleagh YC's ground where the facilities and space will allow them to plan something a bit different.

The boat festival was launched to raise money for good causes and to bring people to Killyleagh to boost the local economy. With just a few weeks to go until this year's event, organisers say there is still time to for people to join in the celebrations.

They have confirmed they are still looking for a few teams to compete in the boat race across the town's harbour, people to march in the parade and crafters for the craft fair which this year will be held at a superb site in the centre of the town.

To celebrate the 2005 event the Strangford Lough Brewing Company is launching new Viking merchandise.

Special bottles, flattened by a secret process, and which bear the Barelegs or Legbiter logos, have been transformed into special clocks.

Brewing company director, Bob Little, said the firm wanted its first piece of merchandise to be a bit different.

"We've had requests for our labels from around 25 countries on three continents so decided that the label must feature prominently on whatever we were going to do, " he explained

"We formed a partnership with a local crafter who produces the bottles for us and these will be going on sale on our website (www.slbc.ie) soon. However, the formal launch will take place at the forthcoming craft fair at the Viking boat festival."

Full details of all events associated with this year's festival will be available soon at www.killyleagh.org, while anyone interested in taking part is asked to contact Brigeen, telephone 028 4482 1461 during office hours or email killyboat@focused.ie