Get Town and Village money to erect a Viking village in Annagassan

FOR many years now we have known about the great links between the Vikings and Annagassan and their arrival in the area.

The foundation of a permanent settlement on the Louth coast at Linn Duachaill is recorded in 841, the same year as the longphort of Dublin was established.

It is said that for 50 years the longphort of Linn Duachaill was an important base from which raids were launched into the Irish interior and on Britain.

In 891 the Vikings were forced out but returned and Linn Duachaill appears to have been used as a base until around 927. At one stage it rivalled Dublin as a centre.

For years the site where the Vikings landed was lost but it was rediscovered and explored over a decade ago.

Surely the time has come for a tourist link to all of this and what better way than an application for funding from the Town and Village Scheme - which could land the project €100,000.

I was in the Botanic Gardens recently and they have a superb Viking home (pictured) on display. Can this be done in Annagassan, along with a Long Boat.

The potential is huge.