Norman Ireland

In the twelfth century (the 1100s), there were many warring clans in Ireland. Each clan had their own king. The most powerful king was known as the high king. For example, Turlough O’ Connor, who died in 1156, was once the high king of Ireland, just like Brian Boru. In order to become high king, a king had to fight against other powerful kings. Sometimes the king of Connacht would win, other times it might be the king of Leinster, Munster or Ulster. These constant fights meant that kings had many enemies. The reason the Normans first came to Ireland was in fact due to this fighting.

Dermot MacMurrough
Courtesy of Wicklow County Libraries

In 1169, a group of Norman soldiers and knights arrived in Wexford to help the Irish king of Leinster, Diarmuid MacMurrough. They were invited by Diarmuid to help him fight his enemies and regain his kingdom in Leinster. Diarmuid MacMurrough particularly wanted to defeat Tiernan O’Rourke, the ruler of Breffini (now Roscommon), and Rory O’Connor, the king of Connaught, because they had joined armies and had forced Diarmuid out of his kingdom.

Strongbow

Strongbow was a Norman lord from Wales who started the Norman conquest of Ireland. He was initially brought to Ireland by Dermot Macmurrough, King of Leinster in 1170. At the time, the king was struggling to maintain his power against the attacks of other Irish chiefs. Strongbow brought with him an army of Welsh archers to help the King. This is why he gained the name Strongbow. When the King died in 1171, Strongbow succeeded him and became the first Norman king in Ireland.

Courtesy of Wicklow County Libraries

Strongbow
Courtesy of Wicklow County Libraries

Strongbow

Strongbow was a Norman lord from Wales who started the Norman conquest of Ireland. He was initially brought to Ireland by Dermot Macmurrough, King of Leinster in 1170. At the time, the king was struggling to maintain his power against the attacks of other Irish chiefs. Strongbow brought with him an army of Welsh archers to help the King. This is why he gained the name Strongbow. When the King died in 1171, Strongbow succeeded him and became the first Norman king in Ireland.

Courtesy of Wicklow County Libraries

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Diarmuid MacMurrough knew that there were Norman knights and soldiers in England and he invited them to Ireland to help him. He first had to get permission from King Henry II, who at the time was the king of England and also the king of Normandy in France. In 1170, a Norman lord called Richard de Clare, nicknamed Strongbow, came to Ireland from Wales. Strongbow brought archers, knights and horsemen with him and helped Diarmuid to capture Waterford and Dublin. Strongbow later married Diarmuid’s daughter, Aoife. In 1171, when Diarmuid died, Strongbow became the King of Leinster. This meant that by 1170 AD the Normans had taken over much of the east of Ireland. By the 1300s, the Normans had castles and power in many parts of Ireland.