Bringing the Vikings to Life
Magnus Viking Association founder Phillip Campbell explains that the group's objective is to "create awareness of a different time." This weekend in County Down, time has been turned back as the Viking association demonstrates how both "hard" and "good" life was during the medieval era.
The Magnus Viking Association Summertime Festival is currently underway at Ballydugan Medieval Settlement near Downpatrick. This marks the fourth consecutive year the festival has been held.
Phillip Campbell, who founded the association in 2003 to honour Viking Magnus Bareleg, buried in the town, shared his motivation.
"My love of the Viking ages originates due to the impact that they had on Ireland that can still be felt today," Campbell told NI.
"The aim of the group is to create awareness of a different time."
"Family was so important back then, communication and storytelling," Campbell added, emphasizing the importance of engaging children and educating them about history.
"We try to show through living history how hard life was but also how good life was."
Who are the Magnus Bareleg Vikings?
The Magnus Bareleg Viking Association was established 27 years ago by Phillip Campbell and is among the earliest medieval re-enactment groups on the island of Ireland.
During the Covid pandemic, the association constructed the Ballydugan Medieval Settlement in Downpatrick, which serves as a meeting place for members to share their passion for medieval re-enactment.
In collaboration with the Education Authority, the group has integrated the settlement into the Key Stage 2 curriculum, specifically for teaching about the Vikings to Primary 6 pupils.
The settlement is regularly used by local schools for educational trips and remains the permanent home of the association.
Participants took part in Viking battle reenactments over the weekend.
The group currently comprises 50 adult members, with recruitment temporarily paused due to high demand.
Besides this weekend's festival, the association organizes various events throughout the year.
"Our aim is to host about two or three festivals a year," Campbell said, "but we are always kept busy with the local schools, providing educational school trips and living history lessons."
The group also plans to sail their longboats on Strangford Lough this summer.
Jewellery Making and Axe Throwing
The festival features workshops and living history demonstrations, including an authentic medieval blacksmith forge showing how weapons were smithed a thousand years ago.
Lise Saxon, who joined the group following a car accident three years ago, participated in an arts and crafts workshop at the festival. She shared how the group helped her regain independence.
"I wanted to do the most extreme thing possible like recreating Viking battles," Saxon said.
"The group is such good fun and everyone is lovely," she added.
"The Vikings didn't waste anything. They were the ultimate green society, they would've recycled everything.
The women would've used bones to make knives, needles and jewellery."
Simon Richardson noted that "everything you see" at the festival is either "a replica or an archeological find."
The group's armoury displays chainmail, swords, and axes, encouraging visitors to roleplay as Viking warriors.
Activities such as axe throwing are offered to visitors alongside battle re-enactments.
During these re-enactments, both children and adults are encouraged to participate and try out the weapons and armour in Viking battle scenarios.
Jewellery making workshops allow visitors to learn how Vikings forged medieval adornments.
A special guest at the event was Dave the Raven, a local celebrity who appears in the Apple TV series Vikings.
Bringing People Together
Chris Lennon, a Viking fighter reenactor, joined the group in 2022.
"I always loved history in school and medieval history," Lennon said.
"So when I heard of this group I knew it would be something I'd be interested in joining."
Raymond Mooney attended the festival with his wife and son Alfie on Saturday. Alfie took part in a children's battle and described it as great fun.
Mooney commented that it is "interesting to see a different way of life" at the festival and added that it is a "good event for my son to try spark an interest in history."
Archaeologist Naomi Richardson, who joined the association in 2020, describes the group as one "joined together by their passion for history."
"I enjoy talking to people about my passion," she said.
"At these festivals, people are always willing to come and show an interest."
Who was Magnus Bareleg?
Magnus Bareleg, also known as Magnus Olafsson III or Magnus Barefoot, was King of Norway from 1093 until his death near Downpatrick in 1103.
During his reign, Magnus conducted military campaigns and conquests, many of which took place in Ireland and Britain.
He is considered one of the last Norwegian kings to die in battle outside Norway and is regarded by some as the final Viking king.
- New discovery may challenge theory Vikings built first Irish towns - researcher
- Travelling as a biking, piping Viking in son's memory
- Vikings raid York in honour of city's heritage
