Vikings and seaweed all part of the festival

Vikings and seaweed all part of the festival

4 June 2014

THE Strangford Lough and Lecale Maritime Festival celebrated the area’s ancient and modern maritime traditions, world renowned wildlife and stunning landscape at the weekend.

With lots of free activities for all the family, crowds flocked to the picturesque coastal villages of Strangford and Portaferry to be part of the action.

As well as some new events there were the popular exhibitions, talks, seaside safaris, seal watches, arts and craft, living history and music performances which made the festival such a success last year.

This year’s festival acknowledged the area’s growing attraction to the international film industry with new specially adapted Game of Thrones Coach Tours running from Strangford on Saturday and Sunday.

The festival also profiled the history and heritage of the Vikings to the area, with an exciting new Viking event featuring a Viking funeral procession through the town of Portaferry, followed by a ceremonial burning of a Viking long ship.

There were also Viking battles and archery for children to enjoy taking part in. Ards Arts Centre similarly got in on the action with a ‘Become a Viking’ event as swords, shields and Viking helmets were all recreated.

A medieval market with a variety of stalls added to the atmosphere in Portaferry.

History was also brought alive at Templecranny graveyard in Portaferry, with Tom McErlean and Liam McQuillan offering tours and talking about the graveyard and church’s fascinating history.

At Strangford and Portaferry Castles a living history ‘Man-at-Arms’ guarding the entrance showed just how deadly these castles could be for the uninvited guest. Displaying a range of fighting weapons and armour to handle and try on, only the brave took the opportunity to find out what it might have felt like to be a medieval fighter.

For those more fascinated by the Strangford Lough shoreline keen foragers met at Ballyhenry Bay early on Saturday morning with local naturalist David Thompson — the low tide revealing some of the wonders of the shoreline. For an even closer look, a ‘Spy Ball’ underwater camera was also available on the Portaferry shorefont.

Dr. Bob Brown was also on hand at the weekend with tales of marine life, music and beautiful photography.

For those wishing to find out more about Strangford’s Lough’s rich marine life, Queens University Marine Laboratory in Portaferry opened its doors to welcome the curious.

Seaweed specialists EnAlgae also allowed visitors to delve into their seaweed garden or take a trip out with them on a boat to see how they are growing seaweed on long-lines in the Lough.

A Nugent’s Wood Walk, a Seal Watch and ‘Flyaway Moth’ event looking at the little studied moth, were also on hand for keen nature lovers. Meanwhile Ulster Wildlife and Exploris provided up-close discovery sessions with some of the Lough’s wonderful sea creatures, particularly popular with the younger visitors.

Some of those more artistically inclined took part in Wildlife Wood Carving or simply enjoyed perusing the work showcased by local artists.