Lookatireland.com would like to make you aware of a very entertaining and fun filled festival which is taking place in Annagassan, Co. Louth from Friday the 5^th to Sunday the 7^th of August.

Annagassan has strong links to the Viking era and is said to be one of the first Viking settlements in Ireland. This was further proven on the recent discovery of a Viking longphort along the banks of river Glyde just outside the village of Annagassan.

The festival kicks off on the Friday night where a ‘Viking Fest’ will take place from 8pm. This is a ticket event with tickets priced at €15 which are available in Slans Pub, the Glyde Inn, Annagassan Post Office and from Tommy Mulroy (Tel. 086-0244997). There will be music on the night by Seamus and Clair McGreevy. A raffle will also be held on the night with some great prizes available. This is also a ‘Bring your own Drink’ event.

Then to help with the sore heads the next morning, on Saturday the 6^th of August there will be a 10k run at 11:00am starting from Dillonstown church. From there it goes into Annagassan, down along the strand, up Togher hill, turns left into Salterstown then back along coast road to finish at Slan’s. Those wishing to take part in this event can book through www.runireland.com. There is an entry fee of €15 in advance or €25 on the day.  The winners prize is €200 and the first female and first male home thereafter will receive a years free membership of Felda Health Fitness and Leisure Centre in Dundalk.

The Festival Field will be open at 1:00pm on Saturday 6th. Entrance to the Festival Field is free for children and €5 for adults. Among its attractions will be a Viking Village, Viking living history re-enactments, Viking battles with the Magnus Viking Group from Co. Down and the Danish Viking group. There will be sword fighting wrestling, craft and food stalls, history tours, demonstrations of traditional crafts along with lots of activities for children.

Boat trips will take place from the Harbour, these trips must be booked in advance through the harbour committee or from Richard McGeough (087 7772476). The boat trips, on a RIB (Rigid Inflatable) will bring you to the landing site of the Vikings of Linn Duachaill. These trips are only available to persons over 16 years.  The trips cost €10 which includes a lecture on the Linn Duachaill site and the discoveries made in the recent excavation.  Lectures will take place throughout the day but, as the river is tidal, boat trips will commence at 4pm.

Activities for children will include:

• · Carnival
• · Face painting
• · Bouncy Castles
• · Story telling
• · Pets corner
• · Magician
• · Making balloon shapes.
• · Children’s play area

There will also be Irish dancing events throughout the weekend.

A duck race will take place on the 7^th Sunday from the harbour; there will be music in the field throughout the day featuring the full shilling (check out our video featuring 'The Full Shilling') and many more acts. Slans and the Glyde Inn will also feature music throughout the day and at night.

Togher Macra will be in the background with their own display and activities such as "Dunk the Monk" and "Milk the Cow". They will be on-hand to answer any queries about Macra and their activities throughout the year, just look out for our 'Togher Macra t-shirts'!

The Carnival will suit all ages depending on how adventurous you are! There will be prizes and raffles throughout the weekend, so if you are not in you cannot win!

Further information can be found on www.annagassanvikingfestival.ie.

Accommodation for this event can be found at the following locations:

Annagassan:

The Glyde Inn – www.theglydeinn.ie

Telephone: +353 (0) 42 9372350

Dundalk (c. 15km away from festival site):

The Fairways Hotel, Dublin Road- www.fairways.ie

Telephone: +353 (0) 42 932 1500

Drogheda (c. 23km away from festival site):

Westcourt Hotel, West Street- www.westcourt.ie

Telephone: +353 (0) 41 9830965

Local taxi numbers:

Tommy- +353 (0) 87 6240086

Kens cabs- +353 (0) 85 7602259