They finally arrived. A full size reconstructed Viking Warship “Havingsten”, known also as Sea Stallion of Glendalough, has arrived to Dublin yesterday around lunch time. Before one could see the boat, one could hear warning sirens of ships docked on the Liffey and bells in local churches – like almost 1000 years ago they were trying to warn citizens against the Viking invasion! There was no panic today, like more there would be in medieval times. Crowd of tourist on both sides of the river, reinforced with curious office workers that have just gone out for lunch, freezed in excitement.
First one could see port authority and fire brigade ships; only then between them there was Havingsten sailing proudly powered only by big orange and yellow sail. The After few minutes the sail was lowered and the sailors, encouraged by the crowds, started to row.
The Sea Stallion is docked on the Liffey close to IFSC and will be moved tomorrow overnight to the National Museum in Collins Barracks. On Friday at 6.30pm the National Museum will officially open the exhibition about the Sea Stallion and the Viking Age. It will run until summer 2008.
A stamp celebrating the arrival of the Viking Warship in Dublin was issued by An Post. The 55c stamp features the Sea Stallion of Glendalough, a reconstruction of the Skuldulev 2 Viking ship built in Dublin in 1042. Researched and illustrated by leading Irish philatelic artist Vincent Killowry, the stamp is available from the main post offices.
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