The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kenmare community prepares for a summer viking invasion
IT’S been some 1200 years since Viking craft were last seen in the seas off Kerry but thanks to a group in Kenmare they’re set to make a return this summer.
The vikings’ imminent return to the Kingdom is all thanks the organisers of the Kenmare Vikingdom Raft Race in late June.
Teams are already busy designing and building their own viking inspired rafts and these will be launched at Kenmare Pier on Saturday, June 23 for the second annual Vikingdom Raft Race.
Teams can build their rafts from whatever materials they like and judging by last year’s creations there should be fierce competition.
Last year seven rafts took to the water but more teams have come on board for this year’s event which is set to be significantly larger.
More teams are invited to come and join the raft race with organisers describing it as an ideal team-building event for companies or just a fun event for friends who want to try something different.
The inaugural event was a huge success but organisers are planning a bigger and better event, on water and on land, this summer.
Among the attractions being added is a Little Valhalla entertainment area which will feature a Viking village including food and craft stalls along with live music and other entertainment.
To add to the festive flavour there will also be prizes for the best dressed Viking and Viqueen as well the best little Viking and Viqueen.
The raft race is the centrepiece of the day and will kick off at 2pm on June 23.
The key rule of the event is that you must paddle the raft not row and the winning teams in the six man and four man races will get a perpetual trophy for their efforts.
This year’s beneficiary is Rockmount Day Care Centre in Kilgarvan - a community based facility which provides respite day care for clients with Alzheimers and other dementia related illnesses in the Killarney, Kilgarvan and greater Kenmare area.
The centre operates six days a week – Monday to Saturday and is a vital service for the region. For this reason organisers chose the local facility as the beneficiary this year.
Last year they raised more than €3,000 for their chosen charities The Make-a-Wish foundation and Pieta House.
To help fund the viking festival the organisers are bringing another great event to Kenmare over the May Bank Holiday weekend when the town will play host to a Fr Ted inspired Lovely Girls Competition. This contests has a little bit of a twist as it see local men dressing up and doing their bit to impress the judges.
The contest takes place on Sunday, May 6 in PF McCarthy’s bar and it promises to be a quite a night.
To support Vikingdom a crowdfunding page can be found at www. ifundraise.ie/Vikingdom