LARGS VIKING FESTIVAL

That this House notes that the Largs Viking Festival began in 1980 as a celebration of the 1263 Battle of Largs and to celebrate and promote the strong historical importance of Largs in defeating the Vikings in Scotland; further notes the importance of Vikings to Largs as evidenced by the number of references to Vikings around Largs, including the famous monument popularly known as The Pencil which commemorates the battle, the Vikingar, an interactive exhibit of Viking tales and myths, and the many street names around the town; pays tribute to the strong local commitment that has enabled this event to grow from a small celebration into a popular annual week-long festival featuring battle re-enactments and the ceremonial burning of the Longboat; recognises that the festival plays an important role in highlighting the historical significance of Largs in defeating the Vikings; and congratulates all those involved in the organisation of the Largs Viking Festival for its continuing success, and wishes the new Viking Festival Committee well for the Festival in 2009 and beyond.