About Diarmaid Murphy:

I have been involved in the sea one way or another all my life with both my parents having strong family links with the sea between Bere island in Bantry Bay and Monkstown and Cobh in Cork Harbour.

Since I was old enough to steer a boat I was coxing races for Bantry rowing club and have been sailing just as long. I finished my competitive career with the rowing club last year after winning the Arklow to Abbersywth Celtic challenge.
I have many miles sailing under my belt with a couple of transatlantic’s behind me, and while living in Australia I have raced professionally in Sydney. I also have had the honour to race offshore with the late Denis Doyle on the famous Moonduster.
I own my own 30ft sailing boat and try to get out as much as I can.

I’m qualified as a marine biologist and have worked with BIM and the Marine Institute in fisheries, but now my main interests and employment comes from traditional boats.

At present, I’m project manager for a Maritime heritage project in association with Waterford Institute of Technology and Hal Sisk.

As part of the Irish crew, an international contest of seamanship called the Atlantic Challenge first brought me to Roskilde in 1990.

This was the first time I had seen Viking ships, and Vikings for that matter.
Since then I have been travelling all over the world racing in replicas of Bantry Bay longboats, the original of which is on display in Collins barracks!

My official involvement with this project started around four years ago. When I first heard it was definitely going ahead, I put my name forward and heard nothing for a long time so I had almost forgotten about it.

My father and I were en-route to Roskilde for the launch of the Glendalough boat and I sat in Cork airport waiting for the fog to lift, but unfortunately we did not make it on that occasion.

This year I was in Roskilde to learn some of the recording techniques they use in the museum and was asked was I still interested in doing the trip. I was put on a waiting list and again was not sure if I was actually going to be on the voyage.

Two weeks ago I was called and asked to fill the last space on the ship for the first leg. Notice was short, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The trip will be tough physically, but more so from a social aspect.

I don’t speak Danish and space is tight on board. I know some of the crew but none of us will know what to expect in relation to the weather and this will effect how people react to each other.

The forecast at the moment is not too promising, but there’s not much we can do about that.

However I do know the Danes well and they have a similar sense of humour to the Irish so I should be OK.

I’m not nervous about the trip because I have spent plenty of time offshore. As for the boats capabilities, well, I know the people who built her and they are well respected in their trade.

If the Danes choose to be difficult, as they have been known to be many centuries ago, I’m sure we can round up a posse and give them a warm Irish welcome, at least this time we know they are coming!!