Two Fact Finding Expeditions Planned

As part of their information programme, the Action Group is organising two trips for those who are interested in learning more about the cultural context of the Woodstown Viking site.

Anybody wishing to go on either trip should contact SVWAG at save@vikingwaterford.com. The trip to the National Museum is free (make own travel arrangements) while the price for the Roskilde trip is EUR300.00 for flights and 3 Star hotel accommodation.

"Both these trips are open to all those who are interested, and we hope as many people as possible will take up the offer. This is an invaluable opportunity to learn more about the wonders we have on our doorstep at Woodstown".

National Museum, Dublin Saturday, 12th Feb

SVWAG is also planning a trip to the National Museum in Kildare St., Dublin on Saturday the 12th Feb. where guides will provide commentary on both fifth-century and Viking Ireland.

Dr Catherine Swift, chairman of SVWAG commented: "People are fascinated by the possible riches of Woodstown which unfortunately we can only guess at until the site is fully excavated. The exhibits at the National Museum help us to picture the realities of life for Woodstown’s settlers.

"Woodstown is known as a Viking site but in fact, we now know that it was first occupied at the time of St Patrick. That alone makes it unique in Irish archaeology. We know almost nothing about the fifth century except that it was a period when the Déise were an extremely powerful maritime power who conquered large parts of west Wales".

"Another feature of Woodstown’s archaeology is the large number of ship’s nails.Our historical texts tell us that once the Déise learned how to make Viking longships, they built themselves a great navy which they hired out to Irish kings like Brian Boru and his descendants. The Normans attacked Waterford in 1170 because Waterford was rich because of its shipbuilding and maritime trade".

Roskilde Ship Museum in Denmark 22nd to 25 April

SVWAG intends to facilitate a fact-finding mission to the famous Roskilde ship museum in Denmark where a highlight of the exhibition is ‘the Irish longship’. This enormous war-ship was built in the Dublin region in the 1040s. It is hoped that part of the trip will include a voyage in this recently launched replica.

The town of Roskilde in Denmark has become a major tourist destination since the discovery of the Viking longships in the 1960’s. The construction of the museum in Roskilde and the subsequent boom in tourism is an example of what can be achieved if the Woodstown Viking Site is properly handled and excavated fully.