Guess what? The Danish government today expressed its regret
over the Viking invasion of Ireland more than 1,000 years ago.
The belated near apology came as thousands gathered to watch a
replica Norse warrior ship pull into Dublin’s Docklands after an
epic voyage across the North Sea. In a fit of diplomacy sparked
by the sense of occasion, Danish Culture Minister Brian
Mikkelson was moved to extend a surprise olive branch. “In
Denmark we are certainly proud of this ship, but we are not
proud of the damages to the people of Ireland that followed in
the footsteps of the Vikings,” Mr Mikkelson whimpered.“But the
warmth and friendliness with which you greet us today and the
Viking ship show us that, luckily, it has all been forgiven.”
Isn’t this retro-historical apologising so beloved of liberals
hilarious? It is true that the Vikings attacked the Irish 26
times in the first 25 years after their first appearance in
Ireland, but the same Irish Annals that record this fact also
mention attacks of Irishmen against I