The Viking invasions of Ireland marked a turbulent period in Irish history. Freshly arrived in Ireland in the 8th century, the Vikings gradually took over the Irish towns and countryside, imbuing the population with their customs, habits and architecture…
A Viking and his drakkar – © Nejron
The end of the 8th century saw the arrival of the Vikings and the start of the plundering in 795. At this time, the Vikings were looking for new lands to expand and find new wealth, and saw Ireland as an ideal place to settle.
As early as 841, the first Norwegian fortresses were erected at Lynn Durechell (now Anagassan), at the mouth of the River Liffey, marking the birth of Dublin, a city with profoundly Viking origins.
The Vikings’ presence soon disturbed the Irish, who did their best to repel them. But Ireland’s main weakness is its lack of centralized defense: the island is made up of a myriad of small kingdoms, and is separated into two zones of power. Leth Cuinn is dominated by the O’Neills of Tara, while Leth Moga is under the influence of the Eoganachta of Cashel.
The years that followed were marked by numerous alliances and battles, pitting the Vikings against the Irish, but the latter seemed less capable of combat than the Vikings, who were formidable warriors…
Brian Boru – J.-H. Janßen – cc
In 999, Brian Boru of the Dal Cas dynasty defeated the King of Leinster and the Vikings in Dublin, which was sacked. The Vikings now see this man as a real threat to their power… Brian Boru seems to have the troops needed to defeat the Vikings, and his ambition is to become the supreme king of all Ireland, to the detriment of the Viking invaders…
After many battles, it was three years later at Tara that Mael Sechnaill surrendered without a fight, and Brian Boru became supreme king of all Ireland. Brian Boru’s final victory came in 1014 at Clontarf, symbolizing the fall of the Viking Invasions in Ireland.
Norwegians are now integrated into society: the majority are Christian, and the two cultures, Viking and Gaelic, influence each other. The emergence of towns marked the end of Ireland’s entirely rural past. Maritime traffic is growing, and the social and decision-making center of gravity is shifting to the Irish Sea coast.
Ireland remains divided, however, with over a hundred kingdoms grouped into seven provinces: Munster, Leinster, Connacht, Meath, Ailech, Airgialla and Ulaid.
That hasn’t stopped cultural and artistic activity from picking up again after this period of turmoil…
Today, Ireland still boasts many remnants of Viking occupation…
