The Vikings Settle in Ireland.
This map of Ireland shows the monastic settlements which were raided by the Vikings as well as showing Viking settlements
The years between 795 and 840 were particularly difficult for Irish monks, especially for Irish monks, especially for those who lived on small offshore islands. The first Viking raid took place on Lambay Island off the coast of Dublin in 795. After that, a message travelled throughout the Viking world - Irish monasteries have great treasures and monks do not fight back. Monastic settlements were attacked at Inishmurray, Inishbofin and Sceilg Mhicil. Sailing inland along Irish rivers, the raiders attacked Glendalough, Kildare and Kells. As the raids increased, the Vikings began to plunder towns and settlements in the Irish countryside as well.
Soon a number of Viking raiding parties began to spend the winter months in Ireland. They quickly realised that Irish winters were much milder than those of their northern homes. Looking at the green Irish countryside, they saw that farming and animal rearing would not be nearly as difficult here.
Returning home in the spring, they gathered their families, their animals and their tools and set sail once again, this time to settle in a new and less harsh land. Viking towns were soon established at Dublin, Waterford, Wicklow, Cork and Limerick.
Models of houses in Viking Dublin.
These "people from the North" - the Norse as they were called - had a great influence on the Irish. Norse men and women began to marry Irish men and women. The Norse introduced the use of money to Ireland, along with words like margadh (market) and pingin (penny).
Brian Boru became king of Dal Cais, a small area in north Munster, in 976. He was an ambitious
man and soon all of Munster was in his power. King after king surrendered to Brian until
finally only Malachy, the king of Tara, remained. By 1005, Brian had defeated Malachy and was at last
Ireland's first High King, the "Emperor of the Irish".
Through his many battles, Brian had made a great number of enemies, especially
Mael Morda, king of Leinster, and Sitric, the Viking king of Dublin. Brian had forced them to give hostages
and to pay a tribute (fine), and these proud warriors did not like
this treatment. Together they plotted their revenge.
When Brian's spies heard of this they brought the news to their leader. With a powerful army, Brian attacked
Dublin on Christmas Day in 1013, but he was unable to take Sitric's well protected
town. Even so, Sitric and Mael Morda realised they needed help. Mael Morda tried to get other Irish kings
to fight with him, but they were afraid to go against Brian. Sitric was more successful. He
convinced the Viking leaders of the Orkneys and the Isle of Man to come to Ireland
the following spring.
On Good Friday in the year 1014, Brian and his Munstermen faced their enemies by the sea at Clontarf north of Dublin. By now, Brian was a very old man, so he gave the battle orders to his son and returned to his tent to pray. Slowly but surely the Munstermen pushed back their enemies. Many were forced to flee into the sea and were drowned as they tried to reach their ships.
As the defeated Norse warriors ran for their lives, one of them noticed a grey-haired man. It was Brian Boru. Raising his battle axe, the soldier killed the old king.
After the Battle of Clontarf, many Vikings settled down to become successful merchants
and traders. Even though they had been defeated, they still had great respect for a warrior like Brian Boru.
One Viking saga had this to say about him:
If radio reporting had been possible at the Battle of Clontarf, how might a Viking reporter
have dealt with the story?
Several people in your class could be "interviewed for a "documentary" on what happened.
