And with a nod to her eggheads panel show QI this is quite interesting Viking Sandi’s Irish literary odyssey.
Channel 4 is letting Sandi expand her love of Irish lit to show off on future QIs.
The Danish comedian is only, of course, following in the footsteps of a rich seem of Viking traveller.
To this greenest of green lands.
You may have seen the little mermaid, and she really is totey, around Ireland this past week.
As part of a two-part travel Tourism Ireland series Sandi Toksvig’s Irish Odyssey which airs later this year.
And a blooming good tour
Sandi’s literary journey will take her from the Mourne Mountains beloved by C.S. Lewis.
To Seamus Heaney Home Place in Bellaghy.
The Abbey Theatre, Museum of Literature Ireland, Sweney’s Pharmacy and the James Joyce Centre in Dublin.
As well as to WB Yeats’ grave at Drumcliffe, the Patrick Kavanagh Centre and the Maria Edgeworth Centre.
Along the way, she will meet with contemporary writers, poets and performers.
To explore how Ireland’s rich storytelling traditions continue to thrive and evolve today.
The Viking trail
And if Sandi inspires you to explore more of Ireland’s Viking museum.
Then Dublinia takes you back in time to a time when Dubliners walked around with horned helmets.
For three centuries when they brought their first longboat to shore and named the place Dyflin, or Black Pool which in Irish is Dubh Linn.
Dublinia offers Living History guides teaching you how to use Viking weapons.
The history of the barber surgeon, medieval medicine and herbs, and even showing you how to play Hnefatafl (Viking chess).
There are also daily tours of either the Viking or Medieval exhibitions at 2pm everyday, bar July.
And walking tours of Viking and Medieval Dublin at 11am Monday to Saturday.
Starting from their landmark building located in Dublin’s historic heart through the Viking and Medieval past of the 1,000-year-old city.
And there’s a bar
Now naturally when you get Vikings and Celts together there’s a very good chance you’ll get a watering hole too.
And our friends at Visit Dublin recommend The Brazen Head on Lower Bridge Street, Usher’s Quay as we do.
It is said to date back to 1198 when the horny-helmeted were in town.
While as with most things old the National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street is the place to go to go back in time.
Its exhibition features swords, jewellery, toys, board games and wooden bows, all from the Wood Quay excavation in the 70s.
