(Newser) – More than 12 centuries after Viking raiders began pillaging settlements in Ireland, the Danish government has apologized for their behavior. The country's culture minister offered the collective mea culpa yesterday in Dublin, where he marked the arrival of the Havhingsten, a replica Viking longboat, after a 1,000-mile journey across the North Sea.

"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," Brian Mikkelson said. "The warmth and friendliness with which you greet us today and the Viking ship show us that, luckily, it has all been forgiven." (Read more Denmark stories.)

