Arran Longship Invades Isle of Mann Viking Festival!
Posted: Thursday, 13 July 2006 |
The Arran Longship Society Invaded The Isle Of Mann Viking Festival last week! It was an amazing week of events and international mucking about. There were vikings from all over. Russians, Polish, Icelandic among others as well as loadsa British and Manx. There was a really good turn out from the locals who laid on a fantastic range of events for us including live music at night (on a stage from Glastonbury) and on Sunday night, The Festival of Fire.
Arran was represented by a delegation from AVLS, many of the usual crew couldn't make it with it being the height of the farming and tourist season but we still mustered a bunch of disgraces to row our longship, which I have to say is definetely the most beautiful ship out of the four longships at the festival. And definitely the nicest to row having rowed in one of the others.
Spending a week in the sun in one of the most beautiful places in the world, hospitality and rowing with big burly vikings is a tough but someone's got to do it!
This is the cottage featured in the Movie Waking Ned, The Isle of Mann is a popular film location
The South of the island has stunning cliffs and beaches. This shows the white beach and Calf of Mann in the distance
We built stone towers on the white beach to see if they multipy like the ones on Arran and Holy Isle
We hiked up the cliff path to Dalby the nearest village then back to Peel just in time for the rowing. We didn't get to see much of the rest of the island as we were rowing most days so spent most of the time in Peel.
The Viking Village was facinating. The festival had built it high on the beach complete with look out towers and security was suprisingly good! There was tons to see from sword fighting, hand craft and metal work demonstrations to a full range of armour, clothing, weapons and crafts for sale.
The House of Mannanan was well worth the visit. It tells the story of Mann from the first Celtic settlers and the Viking invasions to the present day through marrionetts, big screen films, reconstuctions, models and a range of interactive technology. One of the most impressive displays is the Viking Longship used to reconstruct the journey from Scandanavia to Mann
Peel Castle is an impossingly avocative structure built on St Patricks Isle which is now linked to Peel by a causeway. St Patricks Isle has been inhabited since 6000BC and was the stronghold of the Kings Court throughout the Dark Ages. The fort that is the oldest part of the present castle was built during the 11th century by King Magnus Barelegs, now there's a name. There is an interactive guide given out at the gate house when you visit or go to http://www.isle-of-man.com/heritage/sites/peel-castle/index.shtml
The blue roof on the beach side is the sound stage for the music side of the festival which was very, very LOUD and had to be danced to.
There was quite a bit of hanging about while we got orginised, two of us had planned ahead and packed rucksacks full of beer and food, guess who has the beer from the faces in this photo?
We did a fair bit of rowing Vikings back and forth from the Castle to the Beach for the invasion re-enactments. I didn't do any rowing till the last day as I was only just out of plaster when we left for the festival and didn't want to do further damage to my poor withered wrist. I forgot my camera so all the photos on this blog are courtesy of Miss Julie Gurr. You can tell Julie took these photos as I would've had all those Russian rowers shirtless...
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Manx Longship
Captain Nigel
After rowing accross the Vikings jumped out of the Longships, ran up the beach and started fighting the Manx who retreated to the Viking village but were sent back out by the women to send the vikings packing.
The Viking Royal Family
The Viking King was Killed in the Battle. The Torch light procession took the Kings Body to his longship where he set sail for the last time.
Dead King Cormac Trying not to Laugh
Typical Vikings, no sense of propriety, you can't take them anywhere...
This is Bogwolf showing Arran Vikingesses True Manx Hospitality. Looking forward to next year already. The people are really friendly, the island is gorgeous, there is great things to do and see and the seafood is fantastic! And I have to say it was wall to wall top totty, a bit like being a kid in a sweet shop! Perhaps an idea for next years fank? (see calumannabel & Annie Begs blog archives on the Western Isles pages)
Arrans Viking Festival, Corrie Capers, is the second week in August, Largs Viking Festival is beginning of September. I will post the programme for Corrie Capers as soon as we have decided what we are doing. Proust!
Arran was represented by a delegation from AVLS, many of the usual crew couldn't make it with it being the height of the farming and tourist season but we still mustered a bunch of disgraces to row our longship, which I have to say is definetely the most beautiful ship out of the four longships at the festival. And definitely the nicest to row having rowed in one of the others.
Spending a week in the sun in one of the most beautiful places in the world, hospitality and rowing with big burly vikings is a tough but someone's got to do it!
This is the cottage featured in the Movie Waking Ned, The Isle of Mann is a popular film location
The South of the island has stunning cliffs and beaches. This shows the white beach and Calf of Mann in the distance
We built stone towers on the white beach to see if they multipy like the ones on Arran and Holy Isle
We hiked up the cliff path to Dalby the nearest village then back to Peel just in time for the rowing. We didn't get to see much of the rest of the island as we were rowing most days so spent most of the time in Peel.
The Viking Village was facinating. The festival had built it high on the beach complete with look out towers and security was suprisingly good! There was tons to see from sword fighting, hand craft and metal work demonstrations to a full range of armour, clothing, weapons and crafts for sale.
The House of Mannanan was well worth the visit. It tells the story of Mann from the first Celtic settlers and the Viking invasions to the present day through marrionetts, big screen films, reconstuctions, models and a range of interactive technology. One of the most impressive displays is the Viking Longship used to reconstruct the journey from Scandanavia to Mann
Peel Castle is an impossingly avocative structure built on St Patricks Isle which is now linked to Peel by a causeway. St Patricks Isle has been inhabited since 6000BC and was the stronghold of the Kings Court throughout the Dark Ages. The fort that is the oldest part of the present castle was built during the 11th century by King Magnus Barelegs, now there's a name. There is an interactive guide given out at the gate house when you visit or go to http://www.isle-of-man.com/heritage/sites/peel-castle/index.shtml
The blue roof on the beach side is the sound stage for the music side of the festival which was very, very LOUD and had to be danced to.
There was quite a bit of hanging about while we got orginised, two of us had planned ahead and packed rucksacks full of beer and food, guess who has the beer from the faces in this photo?
We did a fair bit of rowing Vikings back and forth from the Castle to the Beach for the invasion re-enactments. I didn't do any rowing till the last day as I was only just out of plaster when we left for the festival and didn't want to do further damage to my poor withered wrist. I forgot my camera so all the photos on this blog are courtesy of Miss Julie Gurr. You can tell Julie took these photos as I would've had all those Russian rowers shirtless...
Captain Nigel
After rowing accross the Vikings jumped out of the Longships, ran up the beach and started fighting the Manx who retreated to the Viking village but were sent back out by the women to send the vikings packing.
The Viking Royal Family
The Viking King was Killed in the Battle. The Torch light procession took the Kings Body to his longship where he set sail for the last time.
Dead King Cormac Trying not to Laugh
Typical Vikings, no sense of propriety, you can't take them anywhere...
This is Bogwolf showing Arran Vikingesses True Manx Hospitality. Looking forward to next year already. The people are really friendly, the island is gorgeous, there is great things to do and see and the seafood is fantastic! And I have to say it was wall to wall top totty, a bit like being a kid in a sweet shop! Perhaps an idea for next years fank? (see calumannabel & Annie Begs blog archives on the Western Isles pages)
Arrans Viking Festival, Corrie Capers, is the second week in August, Largs Viking Festival is beginning of September. I will post the programme for Corrie Capers as soon as we have decided what we are doing. Proust!
Calling All Fanksters!
Posted: Thursday, 13 July 2006 |
The 25th Corrie Capers!
Posted: Sunday, 30 July 2006 |
You are cordially invited to Corrie Capers Silver Jubilee Viking Extravaganza!
On such a special occasion we’ve put our helmeted heads together to devise an unprecedented eight, YES EIGHT DAY Viking Festival! Specifically designed to include absolutely everyone regardless of age or perceived ability, come along and stick your oar in to whatever degree you wish including the team events. If you haven’t got a ready made team we will muster one for you!
Come on if you think you’re Viking enough!
Pit you mental and physical metal against the collective intelligencia at the Inter-Pub Quiz, hunt for Buried Treasure, test your Golf swing or go all out to win the Bunk House Race (cash prizes), Clay Pigeon Shooting, Beetle Drive, Sand Sculpting, Viking Games, Longship Racing and the seven aside Cricket!
Relax
Discover the fascinating Natural and Human History of Arran while soaking up the stunning scenery from the unique perspectives of Horseback, Sailing Up The Clyde in The Viking Longship, on a Guided Walk with both a Forestry and a National Trust Ranger or chilling out at The Sannox Oval (voted the most scenic cricket pitch in the UK) and take in a Movie. Ah… that’s better…
And Party On!
Raise the rafters at Songs of Praise (non denominational), hoof it at The Family Ceilidh (with Caller), repel the Viking Invasion, Longship Burning and Rock N Roll into the night by the light of a Raging Bonfire and Fire Works!
Phew! All that in only EIGHT days? 25 years older and dafter that ever! Here’s the full rundown for the best Corrie Capers yet, come on you know you want to, Valhalla on Earth!
Sunday 6th August
Songs of Praise at Corrie Kirk
Inter Pub Quiz – Sannox Hotel vs Corrie Hotel
Tuesday 8th August
Viking Longship Rowing: 6pm at Corrie Port. Every child under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Donations of £5 per adult, children go free!
Wednesday 9th August
Childrens Treasure Hunt
Corrie Auction & Whiskey Raffle
Thursday 10th August
Golf Tournament
Bunk House Race
Saturday 12th August
Big Art Coffee Morning – All Ages And Abilities
Location: Corrie Hall £2.50 each
Let your creative juices flow! Come and work together to create a giant Viking Frieze to decorate Corrie Hall for Up-Hellia! All ages and all abilities very welcome, if you can hold a brush you’re going to amaze yourself with your genius! If you would rather mess around on the beach, enter The Sand Sculpture Competition! Again no age restrictions so the whole family can enter. All children under 12 must be accompanies by an adult who can kick back at the coffee morning or join in!
Viking games
Longship Racing
Face Painting
Up-Hellia Parade
Longship Invasion
Beach Battle
Longship Burning
BBQ, Bonfire, Rock N Roll & Fireworks
Sunday 13th August
Cricket at Sannox Oval
Here's the link to the programme, you will probably have to cut and pate it into your browser
Arran ExPat wandering the world, residing in Cyprus for now with the odd visit home.
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