Day 8 - June 8th

Today (Saturday), we traveled back in time when visiting the Ballydugan Medieval Settlement, a replica of what a medieval village in Ireland would have looked like. We visited different lodges in the village, with different speakers in each lodge describing different aspects of the village. We first headed to the main lodge, where a massive tapestry was on display, showcasing notable figures in Norse mythology. The speaker in the main lodge described each figure (including Thor, Odin, Fenrir, the Valkyries, etc.) and shared a few fun facts, including that each day of the week is named after a Norse god or goddess. We also learned about textiles and how long it would have taken to clothe an entire village using techniques we were shown. We were told that clothes would have between 10 and 12 stitches per inch, which required everyone in the village to lend a hand in sewing to even complete socks in a reasonable amount of time. We finished off our time in the medieval village with battle activities, defending ourselves from attackers using shields and taking down opponents throwing axes and shooting arrows. Though my axe-throwing needed a bit of work, I thought I had a knack for the archery.

We also visited Saul Church, the site of the first church in Ireland. When St. Patrick came back to Ireland in 432 as a missionary, he lacked a church from which he could preach. That was until Díchu, the first convert in Ireland, gave him a barn. Saul Church, as it's known today, is what has come of the straw barn that St. Patrick would have inherited from Díchu. It's incredible to think that the site we visited has remained a place of worship for nearly 1600 years. Inside the church, there was a certain stillness and absolute silence, despite the roaring wind outside. Dr. Campbell was even telling us that many believe there's a special connection between heaven and earth within the church, lending to the noteworthy stillness and calm inside.

We finished off the day in Strangford, taking the ferry across the water to Portaferry to stop for an ice cream before returning back to Newcastle.