ANCESTRAL NEST - VIKINGS & SLAVS FESTIVAL

We warmly invite you to the Polish-Irish Heritage Festival – ANCESTRAL NEST - Battle of Clontarf to celebrate cultures: Polish History with Irish Heritage & Vikings Connection.Our event will last all day, bringing together the local community, the Polish diaspora, and friends of culture — until the final medieval drumbeat unites us around midnight.

Location: Inchicore Social & Sport Club, Dublin
Date: 11 April 2026
Time: 10 AM - 5.00 PMWhat to expect on the Day:Viking Stories & Battles

• Folk Music Groups & White Singing, Shows & Performances
• Balfolk Dublin traditional European dance group
• International & Polish Folk Cuisine
• Workshop (pottery, sword & shields making for the youngest)
• Art and ceramic teacher

HISTORY:

The Battle of Clontarf, fought on April 23, 1014, was one of the most significant and famous battles in Irish history.The battle was a major confrontation between the forces of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland, and a coalition of Viking warriors and Irish rebels from Leinster and Dublin. The battle occurred near Dublin, on the northern shores of the River Liffey, and became a symbol of Irish resistance to Viking influence.

FESTIVAL:

Expect Viking combat shows, white singing, children’s crafts, scouting skills like first aid and forest survival, feasting, folk music, and traditional cuisine.
We want to highlight the parallels between the Scandinavian settlers (often called Vikings) and today's migration – people searching for a new life and a place to grow. Far from the stereotype of bloodthirsty warriors, we will show how Scandinavians enriched Irish culture (and vice versa!), and how their presence influenced Ireland’s economic and social development.A shared love of history unites Poles and the Irish. Together, with passion, knowledge, and openness, we will tell this story. We believe that by rediscovering the past, we come to better understand one another, building a community rooted in respect, identity, and mutual understanding.That is why our event aims to bring closer two worlds that may seem far apart on the map, yet are deeply connected through culture and history.Meet and welcome our groups and guests from Ireland and Poland as they join us in celebrating the Polish–Irish Festival in Inchicore: