Danes say sorry for Viking raids on Ireland · We are not proud of the massacres, says minister · Apology marks arrival of replica longboat in Dublin Owen Bowcott, Ireland correspondent Thursday August 16, 2007 The Guardian More than 1,200 years ago hordes of bloodthirsty Viking raiders descended on Ireland, pillaging monasteries and massacring the inhabitants. Yesterday, one of their more mild-mannered descendants stepped ashore to apologise. The Danish culture minister, Brian Mikkelson, who was in Dublin to participate in celebrations marking the arrival of a replica Norse longboat, apologised for the invasion and destruction inflicted. "In Denmark we are certainly proud of this ship, but we are not proud of the damages to the people of Ireland that followed in the footsteps of the Vikings," Mr Mikkelson declared in his welcoming speech delivered on the dockside at the river Liffey. "But the warmth and friendliness with which you greet us today and the Viking ship show us that, luckily, it has all been forgiven." The Havhingsten (Sea Stallion) sailed more than 1,000 miles across the North Sea this summer with a crew of 65 men and women in what was described as a "living archaeological experiment". The reconstructed longboat was based on a ship found at the bottom of the Roskilde Fjord, south of Copenhagen. The original vessel was believed to have been built in Dublin - then a Viking city - in 1042 and to have sunk 30 years later. The wreck was discovered in 1962 and tests on the timbers enabled archaeologists to trace the wood to trees from Glendalough, County Wicklow. The first Viking raiding parties arrived in Ireland in 795, targeting wealthy monasteries on outlying islands such as Rathlin, County Antrim and Inishmurray, County Sligo. By 841, Vikings were over-wintering in fortified settlements such as Dublin, Wexford and Waterford and over the next two centuries these cities were gradually absorbed into local Irish kingdoms. The replica ship - built using tools of the era - is 30 metres long and the largest reconstructed longboat ever built. Guile rather than brute strength was needed to ensure that the Sea Stallion completed its voyage from Roskilde to Dublin in time for the celebrations. The Vikings relied upon sail and rowing power. When the winds failed this summer, the longboat was towed for 345 miles. However, archaeologists advising the project insisted that the experiment had proved the seaworthiness of Viking vessels. Diarmuid Murphy, 34, from Bantry, Co Cork, one of the sailors on the ship, admitted he almost gave up at the outset. "About 18 hours into it I was just so cold and wet and I said there's no way I'll do this," he said. The crew survived on a diet of dried food and had to sleep in the exposed and cramped conditions of an open boat for six weeks - with occasional respite on a support vessel. "There was cold, lashing rain on some days from the morning until the following morning," the ship's project manager, Prieben Rather Sorensen, said. "We did not have the time that the Vikings had as we had to be here today. That was one of the challenges." The longboat is due to make the return voyage next summer.

Good morning listers. The people who made and sailed this Viking craft are to be congratulated. Based on their experience transporting the craft to Ireland points out what we already knew, the Norsh and Swedish Vikings were a tough bunch. As an aside, while researching the area of Lough Ree where my extended Kelly family lived for centuries, divers have found dozens of Viking crafts on the bottom of lakes Lough Derg and Ree. Apparently, along with some very rough weather, some battles also took place there which would be interesting to know about, that is if the Vikings left written records. I never thought much about that before. And the Shannon River is not a bubbling brook either. The Vikings had to enter the river at Kilrush and from there navigate up the Shannon to Lough Derg ( O'Brien's territory) then up to Lough Ree (O'Kelly's territory) and all the while passing hostile armies on both sides of the river. Their targets of course were rich monastic sites and many a Viking died to obtain a gold framed picture or statue. They were a tough bunch. Don Kelly

Good Afternoon All: Looks like there's much to be said about some of our ancestors, namely, The Vikings. Invaders? Certainly! However, like every other invader of Ireland they were absorbed into that wonderful place by those wonderful people. Of course it took more than a few weeks for the Irish women of the day to cast their spells. Worthwhile however, afterall we're here. Love, Jack Sweeney, in slightly overcast, pleasant Palmer, Pennsylvania.

Sho nuff John. Half our ancestors were female, and we love them all. By the way, a long time ago I read where the Vikings who stayed in the greater Kinsale area, became thereafter known as Kerrymen. Any truth to that? Don ----- Original Message ----- From: "John L. Sweeney" <sweelab@enter.net> To: <irl-kerry@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 9:34 AM Subject: [IRL-KERRY] The Viking subject. > Good Afternoon All: > > Looks like there's much to be said about some of our ancestors, namely, > The > Vikings. > > Invaders? Certainly! However, like every other invader of Ireland they > were > absorbed into that wonderful place by those wonderful people. > > Of course it took more than a few weeks for the Irish women of the day to > cast their spells. > > Worthwhile however, afterall we're here. > > Love, Jack Sweeney, in slightly overcast, pleasant Palmer, Pennsylvania.