Brian Boru Millennium Festival

Festival event calendar

2014 marks the millennium anniversary since the death of Ireland’s High King, Brian Ború, who was killed during the Battle of Clontarf on Good Friday 1014. An island wide programme of commemorative events will centre on four key locations with connections to the life of Ireland’s best-known historical medieval figure: Cashel, where Brian was crowned High King of Ireland; Killaloe in County Clare, which was the seat of Brian’s High Kingship of Ireland; Clontarf, where Brian was killed following his victory over the Viking rulers of Dublin at the Battle of Clontarf and the City of Armagh.

     It is in the Ecclesiastical capital of Armagh that Brian Ború was laid to rest, as he wished, and his tomb is located in the Church of Ireland Cathedral. To commemorate the millennium anniversary a series of events, to suit all ages, will take place across Armagh City from Tuesday 22nd April to Sunday 4th May.

 Events include:

Tues 22nd Apr: The Bóroimhe Suite [Concert] (poster states 23^rd April)
Wed 23rd April: The Arrival of Brian Ború [Re-enactment Event]
Thurs 24th April: Viking Longboats [Family Fun]
Sun 27th April: Ecumenical Service of Commemoration [Service]
Thurs 1st & Fri 2nd May: The Waking of Brian Ború [Performance]

The Bóroimhe Suite

 Wed 23rd

Reminder that the Boróimhe Suite Concert - commissioned to celebrate Brian Ború's life and commemorate his death, will take place in Killaloe St. Flannan's Church, The Green on Wed 23rd at 8.30pm. From 8pm some of our local Trad music students will perform. The show will open with a performance of Kincora Call. Tickets from Heaney's, Jimmy Whelan's, McKeogh's or onlinewww.coisnahabhna.ie



Arrival of Brian Boru:

 Wed 23rd

Join us at Navan Fort as re-enactors demonstrate the arrival of Brian Ború’s party in Armagh, hours after his death at the Battle of Clontarf.

‘The Arrival of Brian Ború’ is a historical re-enactment revealing how an advanced party of warriors left Clontarf to make arrangements for the arrival of Brian’s body in Armagh.

Fully armoured and having just returned from battle, meet the warriors who have been sent to Armagh to announce Brian’s death and make arrangements for his twelve day wake and subsequent burial.

The re-enactors will be demonstrating daily life in Medieval Ireland with a range of crafts for visitors to enjoy:

Storytelling

Hear tales from the battlefield as the warriors provide you with their own version of events from the Battle of Clontarf.

Scale Model

Find out what Dublin looked like in 1014 with a fascinating scale model of the Battle of Clontarf. The re-enactors will point out key areas in the battlefield and provide an insight into the battle.

Blacksmith

Step back in time and learn this everyday craft of blacksmithing.

Cooking

Learn about the ancient cooking methods with camp fire cooking.

Monier

View the special displays of medieval monier and learn the craft of coin making.

Viking Longboats At Loughgall

24 Apr 2014 | Loughgall Country Park

Enjoy a family fun day out as Viking Longboats are launched onto on the lake at Loughgall Country Park.

Family activities on the day include:

• Rowing and Sailing Sessions
• Viking History Talks
• Warrior Weapon Training
• Mock Battles for Children

Ecumenical Service of Commemoration

27 Apr 2014 | Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral

Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, Northern Ireland.

After his death at the battle of Clontarf on Good Friday, 1014, Brian Boroimhe, High King of Ireland, was buried ‘on the north side of the great church’ at Armagh. The Church of Ireland Cathedral of St Patrick, which stands on the site, incorporates a memorial tablet in its north wall. A service will be held to mark the millennium of the burial of Brian Boroimhe on Sunday 27th April 2014 at 3.15 p.m.

     Based on the Anglican liturgy of Choral Evensong, the service will be ecumenical in character, including both commemoration of the burial and prayer for the Ireland of today. Mark Patrick Hederman, OSB, Abbot of Glenstal, will preach.

     Given the widespread interest in the commemoration of the Battle of Clontarf, and the limited seating capacity of the Cathedral, admission to the service is likely to be by ticket only.  Application for tickets should be made by Friday 28th March toadmin@armaghpubliclibrary.co.uk, or by post to The Administrator, Armagh Public Library, 43 Abbey Street, ARMAGH, BT61 7DY.  Except in the case of those specifically invited, tickets will be issued on a ‘first come first served’ basis in early April.

     Looking forward to the service, the Dean of Armagh, the Very Revd Gregory Dunstan, said, "The Battle of Clontarf was of European importance. The commemorative programme runs from Killaloe through Cashel and Dublin to Armagh. In this service, the Cathedral aims both to reflect on an historic tragedy and to highlight its significance for the Island of today."

The Waking of Brian Ború

01 May 2014 | Church Of Ireland Cathedral Armagh

The Waking of Brian Ború’ is a community project involving adults and children from the Armagh area. The project stems from a wish to offer local people of all ages in Armagh an opportunity to reflect upon and engage with the one thousand year anniversary of Brian Ború’s death, by creating a community inspired performance on the hill at the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh.

Viking Tented Village

03 May 2014 | The Mall

Viking re-enactors lived the ancient life for a week.

An event not to be missed as over 100 Vikings set up camp in a tented medieval village on The Mall. The Viking village display will include a large-scale living history re-enactment of a Viking settlement featuring cookery displays, crafts, bone and antler carving, a silversmith and blacksmith, skills demonstrations and much more. Visit the tented village and listen to the Viking’s tales, see authentic weapon displays and witness demonstrations.

Living ancient life can only go so far.

One of the creative things that has been created for the festival is the Kincora Call, whose origin is with the Maori native warriors of New Zealand called the Haka. This ritual dance was performed on the battle line to intimidate their opponents.

Youth performers of the Kincora Call talk with Brian Boru actor.