BELLS TO RING ACROSS THE WAVES AND CENTURIES FOR SEA STALLION FROM GLENDALOUGH, DUBLIN'S VIKING WARSHIP

The bells of Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark and of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin and other Dublin Churches will mark nearly a thousand years of history this summer. The Sea Stallion from Glendalough, a reconstruction of a Viking Warship, built in Dublin in 1042 is to recall the voyages of that original ship now known as Skuldelev 2.

When the 30 metre Sea Stallion from Glendalough leaves Roskilde Fjord on 1st July 2007 the bells of the ancient Domkirke of Roskilde will ring out to signal its departure and speed it on its way. There was a stone church on the Roskilde site in the era of the original ship. There has been a church on this site for nearly a thousand years. The present Cathedral has housed the tombs of Danish Monarchs since the Reformation.

As the Sea Stallion arrives in Dublin, Christ Church's full peal of 16 bells will ring out in welcome and to draw the attention of the City to the event.

When work began on the original ship in Dublin, the first Christian Viking King Sitric had just founded Christ Church and as it sailed in Dublin's waters its crew would probably also have heard the tolling of bells from the tower of Christ Church.

In 1042 mighty oak trees, which formed part of Ireland's ancient forests in the Dublin/Wicklow Mountains were felled to make the powerful warship, Skuldelev 2. After a period of sailing in Irish waters and possibly being involved in battles for the kingship of England the ship sailed to Denmark. The ship was scuttled in the fjord with four other Viking Ships 20km north of Roskilde in order to protect Roskilde which at that time was probably the capital of Denmark. For over 930 years lay in the mud and waters at the mouth of the Fjord. Experts could tell from examining the timber that the original trees were Irish. The Crew and Danish dignatories will plant a copse of oak tress in Glendalough on the day after the boats arrival as a living memorial.

Now 965 years after the original was built, the reconstruction, Sea Stallion from Glendalough, will recall the original voyages when it sets sail to for Ireland with the peal of Roskilde's bells calling across the waves and the centuries. The full majesty of Christ Church's collection of bells will call them home. As the ship reaches the Dockside other Dublin church bells will join in. Sea Stallion arrives at Custom House Quay, Dublin on the 14th August at 1.00 p.m. Celebrations begin at Noon. www.seastallion.dk.