Vandals attack viking village

Vandals attack viking village

20 September 2023

THE group behind the successful Ballydugan medieval settlement outside Downpatrick insists it will not be deterred by the latest vandal attack at its base.

Vandals have targeted the widely acclaimed living history project on a number of occasions over the past year, with the Magnus Viking Association left perplexed and angry at the most recent incident.

Damage was caused to a number of buildings and equipment on Monday of last week.

Viking Association chairman Philip Campbell said the he was at a complete loss to understand why the settlement had been targeted.

“We are gutted by these recent attacks and have no idea why the village has been singled out, “ he said.

“It has taken 20 years to bring this interactive living history experience to fruition. It is run entirely by volunteers and we will not be deterred by this wanton vandalism.”

While there have been repeated attacks the medieval settlement, those who run it say they will not be deterred and will continue to deliver what is a unique living history experience.

Mr Campbell said two people were spotted climbing over the entrance gate to the facility and that once inside, started a ride-on lawnmower which they drove around and crashed into a number of buildings.

He said the settlement had been targeted on a number of occasions over the past year.

“The buildings are obviously all timber and there was quite a bit of damage caused and it is hard to put a value on the cost of the repairs which are volunteers have been busily repairing,” he explained.

Mr Campbell said the settlement’s various structures were made from recycled timber and that quite a lot of man hours were involved in carrying out the repairs.

“We have been working flat out to have everything repaired. Incidents like this are just a real pain in the backside and something we should not have to deal with,” he continued.

“You have to ask yourself when people access the settlement and cause damage what on earth is going through their head? What is the motivation behind this? 

“Is it boredom, drug related or just people seeing something that they want to destroy because they don’t own it?  My simple question is why? Why do something like this?”

Mr Campbell said the vandalism was reported on the Magnus Viking Association’s Facebook page by someone who saw a silver coloured car and two people climbing over the perimeter fence and that by the time volunteers made their way to the settlement, the damage had been done.

He continued: “Before they left they also tossed the Portaloos over as well.

“What we want to try and run through to the early Christian period right up to the Norman period and we are trying to put the settlement on the map and have it included in Ireland’s Ancient East tourism initiative. We have also met with Tourism NI and recently secured our full planning permission.”

South Down MLA Cathy Mason and Slieve Croob councillor Jim Brennan have condemned those responsible for targeting the living history project.

Mrs Mason said the Vikings had worked tirelessly to create what she described as a “fantastic showcase of living history of the Viking era”.

She added: “The medieval village is a fantastic resource for local schools, history enthusiasts and tourists. It attracts visitors from all over the world to South Down. To see it targeted in such a negative way is utterly reprehensible.”

Cllr Brennan said not only will the damage caused by vandals take time and effort for the Magnus Volunteers to clear up, but vital funds which should be used for the project will have to be used to repair damage.

Anyone who can assist police with their enquiries into the recent vandal attacks at the Ballydugan medieval village is to contact officers using the non-emergency 101 number.