Armagh commemorates life, death and burial of Ireland’s High King
Armagh is set to mark 1000 years since the death of High King of Ireland, Brian Ború, with a series of family-friendly events including Viking longboat sailings, historical re-enactments, Cathedral concerts and a Viking tented village.
The special festival of events will take place from 22nd April to 4th May as part of an Ireland-wide commemoration of the millennium anniversary of Brian Ború’s death at the Battle of Clontarf on Good Friday 2014 and his burial in Armagh’s Church of Ireland Cathedral.
Armagh is one of four locations across Ireland taking part in a national programme of events and joins Clare, Tipperary and Dublin in the special commemorations.
One of the festival highlights will be an exciting re-enactment of the Arrival of Brian Ború at Navan Centre and Fort on Wednesday 23 April. This demonstration will reveal how an advanced party of warriors left Clontarf to make arrangements for the arrival of Brian Ború’s body in Armagh following his death. This free event will bring the past to life with a variety of activities for all the family, including storytelling, blacksmith and coin making demonstrations, as well as a fascinating scale model of the Battle of Clontarf.
Loughgall Country Park will also play host to one of the festival’s key attractions, a Viking Longboat event on Thursday 24th April. This free family fun day will see an invasion of Viking Longboats arrive in authentic vessels for visitors to enjoy rowing and sailing sessions, Viking talks, weapon training and exciting mock battles.
Armagh’s Cathedrals will play an important role in the commemorative festival by hosting their own special events. The festival will open on Tuesday 22nd April with an orchestral concert at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral with a suite of music written by composer Michael Rooney to reflect the life of Brian Ború which will be performed by the national Folk Orchestra Ireland. On Sunday 27th April the Cathedral host an Ecumencial Service of Commemoration led by preacher Mark Patrick Hederman, OSB, the Abbot of Glenstal (Co. Limerick). Then on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd May the Cathedral will also host The Waking of Brian Ború, a community project involving adults and children from the Armagh area.
Concluding the line-up of events will be an impressive Viking invasion as over 100 Viking warriors set up camp in a tented village on Armagh’s Mall on Saturday 3rd May and Sunday 4th May. Visitors will get the chance to see how life was in Brian Ború’s lifetime as Viking re-enactors work, cook, eat and sleep on site. The unique event will also include falconry displays, story-telling, craft demonstrations, cookery displays and blacksmith and skills demonstrations, providing the ultimate insight to life as a Viking Warrior.
Commenting on the unique festival, Lord Mayor, Robert Turner, said:
“This is an important year for Armagh. As one of four key areas to be part of the Brian Ború festival across Ireland, this is a unique opportunity to commemorate Brian Ború’s history and legacy in Armagh.
“From Viking re-enactments to classical concerts and special church services, Armagh’s Brian Ború festival will celebrate every aspect of this historic date. I would encourage everyone to come along to as many of the events as possible, even if they’re not aware of the history of Brian Ború, as this is a great opportunity to learn about one of Armagh’s ancient figures.”
Brian Ború visited Armagh in 1004, where he left an offering of gold upon the Cathedral alter and acknowledged the ecclesiastical supremacy of Armagh. During this visit, Brian’s name was inscribed in the Book of Armagh as ‘Emperor of the Irish’. It is in Armagh’s Church of Ireland Cathedral that Brian Ború was laid to rest, according to his wishes.
Guides for the Brian festival are available at City Centre venues now or they can be downloaded from www.armagh.co.uk or contact the Armagh Tourist Information Centre for more details on 028 3752 1800.