Having just completed the build and launch of our currach, we attended a heritage skills seminar in Durham and were introduced to Dr. Keith Bartlett, director of the Lindisfarne Gospels Exhibition, which was to be open for three months during the summer of 2013 at Palace Green next to Durham cathedral. On learning about our currach project, we were delighted to receive his invitation to Durham to row Wilfridus up the river Weir to the city and to show ourselves to the visitors to the exhibition and cathedral.

Plans were quickly drawn up with the help of our colleagues at the Bede’s World museum in Jarrow and we decided to carry out the trip during the last weekend in July. This coincided with the Durham Folk Party, when there would be lots of activity around the city with folk singing and lots of Morris sides demonstrating and adding colour to the events.

The currach party, suitably attired for the occasion, set off on the Saturday morning in glorious sunshine to row up to Elvet Bridge, where they were met by more “monks” from Bede’s World. Having been suitably rested, we proceeded in procession from the market place up to Palace Green. We then rowed on to the magnificent Durham Cathedral for a blessing of the party, before visiting the tombs of the venerable Bede and St. Cuthbert to pay homage.

Our Morris sides were invited to dance in the cathedral cloisters for the many visitors, before we made our way back down to the market place and onto a riverside tavern. We finished what had been a memorable day for us with a medieval goose fair and refreshments, more dancing and old fashioned side shows and entertainment.

A good time was had by all and we hope this will become an annual event in Durham’s calendar - we are certainly up for it!