The people of Dublin woke today to find out the Viking Splash Tours, an institution of the city, are facing liquidation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Company director Des Rogers, speaking on RTE's The Business Show, has said that there will be a company meeting on November 26 in order to see if the tours can resume.
Rogers expressed that the company cannot continue to "stand still" and that any potential buyers would have to realise that the fleet of World War II amphibious vehicles are designed solely for Dublin.
The news hasn't been greeted with much shock considering the precarious nature of the current climate for tourist-based companies in 2020.
However, the outpouring of support and recounting of stories from Dublin folk and visitors shows that the Viking Splash will be a huge loss to the city if they cannot continue.
Long live the Viking Splash, here are some of our favourite stories:
Oh I’m devastated! Funniest thing ever was me walking at the side of Trinity,wearing new leather trousers and yer man roars at me - SOMEBODIES WEARING THEIR SASSY PANTS. Que manic laughing from the whole street,me and the full tour 😂
— Audrey Murray (@audipokery) November 14, 2020
Mid-2016, just arrived into Dublin with Icelandic partner, it's her first visit. A landing craft full of screaming people wearing Viking helmets almost runs us over on Nassau Street. I am now suspected of having organised a very weird welcome.
— Paddy English (@english_paddy) November 14, 2020
Sad news! A part of Dublin's summer streets 😟. My favourite overheard Viking Splash tour guide line: 'That's the River Liffey ... but it's not the original Liffey, that burnt down during the War of Independence.' 🤣
— Ciarán Wallace (@CWallaceDublin) November 14, 2020
There was an RTÉ news report from the 4 courts... it was to announce a jail sentence for a vicious murder. As the grave faced reporter looked into the camera, detailing the sentence, the Viking splash went by and everyone went “waaaaaay”
— mj (@blagatha) November 14, 2020
I have long enjoyed rolling my eyes & feeling smugly superior whenever a Splash tour roared past me. Genuinely really sorry to see the loss of this fun Dublin institution. https://t.co/9xWFrKkfD1
— Elizabeth Boyle (@thecelticist) November 14, 2020
Such a shame. I used to live on Pearse street and the Splash tour was like a snooze alarm- a Viking roar outside the window every ten minutes would make me finally drag myself out of bed. It was a great part of Dublins public history offer. Hopefully it’ll return in the future. https://t.co/j28YT7NCeK
— Dónal Hassett (@donalhassett1) November 14, 2020
So sorry to hear of the closure of @VikingSplash The good-humour of the drivers & guides created a great sense of fun on the streets of Dublin. For those of you listening to @TheBusinessRTE here’s the video of they played of 1 journalist trying to do her work, enjoy! @RTERadio1 pic.twitter.com/4z0NS6fNAS
— Flor Mac Carthy (@florNEWS) November 14, 2020
We'll round off with a non-sequitur, sure it's always best to laugh:
Personally I’m not worried about the Viking Splash going into liquidation, it always seemed to do well in the water
— Hubert Dubert (@Hugh_Egan) November 14, 2020
