Thousands of well wishers saw off the replica Viking longship The Sea Stallion of Glendaloughfrom Dublin Port today as it began its return voyage to Roskilde in Denmark.
The Sea Stallion is a reconstruction of a ship, the Skuldelev 2 , built in Dublin in 1042 and believed to have sunk in Roskilde Fjord, near Copenhagen, some 30 years later. The remains of this ship, as well as four others, were excavated in the 1960s.
The reconstruction was carried out over four years at the boatyard attached to the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum.
The farewell ceremony was attended by the Lord Mayor and Admiral of the Port, Councillor Paddy Bourke; Dr Martin Mansergh, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and the Arts; Dr Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland and Tinna Damgard-Sorenseon, director of the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde.
After farewell messages from the dignitaries present, cheers from the crowd and a traditional piper, the 65-strong crew embarked the ship in preparation for their return journey.
“Ireland has a rich Viking heritage and the arrival of the Sea Stallion to Ireland has regenerated interest in this heritage. This magnificent ship symbolizes the shared history of Ireland and Denmark and will continue to link in friendship and community, both our peoples and countries now and into the future,” said Dr Mansergh.
“I wish the crew of the Sea Stallion every good fortune on their continuing journey.”
The return journey is planned via the southern English coastline, and the vessel is due to berth in Portsmouth in a fortnight’s time for the weekend of July 11th to 13th.
The crew – some volunteering for the first time – are “fit and well”, and the mast was set in Dublin Port yesterday. The vessel is due to be packed with food, lifejackets and survival suits today and will be accompanied on the 1,400 nautical-mile journey by a supply ship.
It is more than 1,200 years since Viking raiders landed in Ireland . They came exclusively from Norway, and the first recorded raid was in 795 on Rathlin Island, off the Antrim coast, where the local church was burned.