As well as fighting in Viking battles, we also have our own living history exhibit. This constitutes a military encampment for a Viking unit on campaign, made up of portable tents and sea chests. This forms the backdrop to our public events, as well as providing our home for the weekend.
Here, we sample the Viking way, gathered around the central cooking fire to meet the public and educate about the history of the Viking Age. In the encampment the public can meet Viking warriors, try on their armour and helmets, hold a shield and sword and maybe, if they are unlucky, be clamped in slave-chains. Around them craftsmen are at work, warriors are repairing and maintaining their weapons, a harpist plays and over the fire, our evening meal cooks.
You can see us in action at our Facebook page - Friends of Y Ddraig and our Instagram Page - @yddraiggroup
Of East Angle, his father was a boat builder and moved to Dublin to ply his trade. Yngvar grew up on the docks but decided he didn't want to join the family business and instead joined a ships crew for a life of adventure. He is now a seasoned warrior.
He commands the longships that trade and raid across the Irish sea. He has allies and enemies in Ireland, Wales, England and the Western Isles.
(Photo credit goes to Russell Cobb)
Konal is the son of Jarl Ulfrek who holds a Quarterland farm on the Isle of Man. As a younger man he sailed his fathers longships on spring and autumn trips but has been long abroad. He is a mercenary, raider and slave trader and has connections at courts from Wales and Winchester to Jorvik and Trondheim. He has been on many journeys and fought in many campaigns for many masters. He himself is a now a Jarl with his own ships but has not returned to the Isle of Man although rumours reached him that after his fathers death, his land has been usurped by his younger brother. He intends to correct this.
From the Viking longphort of Annagassan in Ireland, Elina is a horsemaster and musician. She is married to Jarl Konal of Mann.
From Dublin, Baggsy is a trader for the Jarl and a purveyor of cloth, furs, slaves and almost anything else he can get his hands on.
A Norwegian fishermen who got blown off course while fishing, Sven eventually landed on the east coast of Mercia, where they decided they didn't want to be fishermen anymore but would rather go on an adventure and become a great warrior. He started to make his way across Mercia with his son until he reached the Irish Sea. Deciding to see what was across it, they stole a boat, and ended up at the Isle of Mann, where they joined Jarl Brodir. This finally allowed them to be the warriors they always wanted to be.
Son of Sven the Short. Hengist followed his father across Mercia until they reached the Irish Sea. Deciding to see what was across it, they stole a boat, and ended up at the Isle of Mann, where they joined Jarl Brodir, which finally allowed them to be warriors.
Originally from Denmark, he is a former slave who fled to Dublin. Sveinn is a farmer, as well as a part of a ships crew and a wood worker. Now an apprentice to our groups healer, Erika.
I was born and raised in Norway by my mother (Bothild) as my father died in battle when I was a child. She dedicated her life to finding medicinal treatments. We later sailed to Dublin where I took over as village laekir making use of my mother's remedies, performing surgeries and teaching new skills to my apprentice!
The son of hiberno-norse settler Thorgils who, as a child, was taken East to the lands of his mother on the Island of Bornholm, after his father had been banished following a change of local chieftain. He returned to the Irish Sea Basin, looking to succeed where his father had failed. Profession- warrior and Seidmann (sorcerer/seidr practitioner).
Son of farmers from Norway, Ulfar was a second born son who needed to go raiding if he was ever to find wealth and land of his own. He travelled to Dublin in pursuit of this, where he found Jarl Brodir and became his loyal oarsman and warrior. When Ulfar is not out raiding he enjoys tablet weaving additions to his clothing and collecting treasures.
Ylva is a warrior still learning the ropes. Originally from Denmark, they have since settled in Mercia. In between this they found their way onto Jarl Brodir's ship as an oarsman.
Slaver, axe man, taker of heads
Thanks to Maddie Hughes Photography
Thanks to Maddie Hughes Photography
The son of a travelling skald. Drunk in Dublin, and weary of the tales and songs of others, Steinarr decided to jump onto a Viking ship to forge his own saga.
Sveinn Magnusson, son to Norse blacksmith and Vikingr Magnus, who settled with their mother Catan from Kildare west of Dublin after many successful years of raiding. He joined the crew of Jarl Brodi Ulfrekson to forge his own path and he is now known far and wide as Skeggi and have secured his place in Valhal. Die with honour - ᛞᛁᛖ ᚹᛁᚦ ᚺᛟᚾᛟᚢᚱ
Illegitimate born son to Jarl of Orkney. He wanted to make a name for himself by going viking and fighting in foreign lands. He came across Jarl Yngvar and after fighting several battles along side him he was offered a place in his warband where he could earn riches and grow his battle fame
