The Vikings in
Ireland
by Suzanne Barrett

Many of the Norsemen were pirates and traders, and they came
from the Scandinavian North. That they were Norwegians and Danes is known,
however, ancient historians dealt harshly with all Viking invaders and it is
not clearly known if those called Finn-Gaill were of Norwegian descent and
those called Dubh-Gaill were of Danish stock. The term Gaill means Gentile or
foreigner.
Ireland had been free from invasion since prehistoric times
and Christian for three hundred years by the time of the first Viking
incursion. The land was nominally ruled over by the Árd Rí, or High King of the
Irish. In truth, it was more a collection of petty kingdoms which gave lip service
only to the ceremonial overlordship of the Ui-Naill and was constantly warring
over one thing or another. The North of Ireland was ruled by the Ui-Naill
family. Meath was ruled by the Southern Ui-Naill, while Ulster was ruled by
Njall-Caille of the northern Ui-Naill. By the advent of the Vikings, the Árd Rí
was no longer "King of Tara" except in name, for inasmuch as he
ruled, he did so from Derry, which was not even in the kingdom of Meath where
Tara stood.

The Irish kings built fleets against the invaders, and the
Norsemen built towns. Stone superseded wood and eventually became the chief
building material and round towers became lookouts.
By 822 Viking raids occurred annually, and a few years later,
they made incursions inland. By 840 their attacks were concentrated on the
monastic communities. The monasteries were early targets. These undefended
sanctuaries, the deposits of treasures of the kings, were primarily of wood and
were destroyed by the raiders. Many of the illuminated manuscripts were among
the treasures that were destroyed by the illiterate Norsemen–the Book of Kells
being a notable survivor. Still later, they established settlements along
waterways: Dublin by the River Liffey, in Waterford by the River Barrow, in
Limerick by the River Shannon, and in Anagassan by the River Boyne. (Dublin
would remain a separate kingdom and would be ruled by a Norse king from 853,
when the dynasty of Olaf was created, until long after the final dissolution of
Viking political power in 1014, a period of more than 160 years.)
After many incursions into parts of Ireland, the Irish began
fighting back. While the Norwegian Vikings held their main winter camps, new
aggression by Danish intruders held off any advancement. In the mid 800s many
Vikings were killed by the Irish, however, by the end of the century, the
Scandinavians had integrated into Irish life through the taking of wives and
settling on the shores. In the latter half of the century, the Danes and the
Norwegian Vikings were fighting each other.
Eventually the raids ceased and many of the Vikings
became mercenaries, fighting for whichever warring faction of the four
provinces needed aid. But after this period, most Norse became known as
merchants and traders. Second generation Vikings often had Irish names and many
converted to Christianity. Furthermore, ancient Irish and Viking design became
intermingled as the dual cultures thrived. The Norse towns and adjoining
regions–primarily Dublin, and later, Limerick–became client kingdoms after the
Irish pattern. In 1000 A.D. the Norse introduced the first native coinage into
Ireland.
The Viking period in Ireland lasted about 220 years, with the
period of strongest influence lasting a mere 140 years--from the establishment
of Dublin until its sack by the King of Tara. But aspects of Irish culture,
linguistics, and politics would be influenced for all time by the Norse
presence.
This is but an overview of the Viking period. A later article
will go into detail about the conflict between the high Kings of Ireland and
the Viking rulers. For further reading the Viking Answer Lady has an
excellent, detailed history of the period. Also check out an article
by Renee Vincent, author of the recently published novel Ræliksen set in Viking
Ireland.
If this whets your appetite to learn more about Viking
Ireland, why not visit Dublinia,
a Viking and Medieval Museum right in Dublin City Centre located at the
crossroads of St Michael’s Hill, Patrick St., and Thomas St. Dublinia is
connected to Christ Church Cathedral by a medieval footbridge. Open daily
throughout the year (10.00am to 5.00pm April to September and 10.00am to 4.30pm
October to March). Admission is €6.95 for adults, €5.95 students and seniors
and €20.00 for a family of four (2 adults and 2 children). Group and combined
rates also available (combining Dublinia and Christchurch Cathedral), also
there's a guided tour of Viking and Medieval Dublin with costumed guides
stationed around the exhibits to provide more information.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...

Her latest books are Loving Luke
and The Prodigal
Lover, available at Amazon and other online stores. Both novels are
set in Northern California. In Love and
War, a novel of Ireland is set in County Waterford where Suzanne
spent a winter researching Irish history.
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