Vikings prepare to invade Downpatrick

28 July 2021

DOWNPATRICK is bracing itself for a Viking invasion this weekend.

The Magnus Viking Association, in conjunction with the Ballydugan Medieval Settlement, is hosting the inaugural Lughnasa Festival on Saturday and Sunday.

There will be a host of activities and crafts for all the family to enjoy.

The centrepiece of the festival will be the Lughnasa Medieval Market and Festival of Grain and Bread Making.

There will be a wide range of medieval market stalls selling handmade goods.

There will also be bake and taste different types of bread from around the world, including French socca, Indian lachcha paratha, Native American fry bread and Venezuelan arepas.

There will also be sourdough demonstrations with the chance to see sourdough bread cooked in a dutch oven over the fire and sourdough pancakes cooked on a bakestone.

Activities for young children include corn dolly making, decorating wheat sheaves, themed candle jar crafting and ampfire bread making, with storytelling.

For children aged 10 and over and adults who fancy some more serious crafting, there will be the

chance to make, corn crowns and table centres.

Visit the working forge and watch the medieval blacksmith at his work, and then go to the armoury, where you can try on Viking helmets and look at the array of Celtic, Viking and Norman swords, arrows, axes and weaponry on show.

In addition there will be a stand showing how whiskey was traditionally made from grain.

Also re-enactors will be there doing battle in medieval fights and showing some battle techniques in the arena.

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