THE VIKINGS IN IRELAND
By Tim Lambert
The Vikings first attacked Ireland in 795. They
looted monasteries. They also took women and children as slaves. However the
Vikings were not only raiders. They were also traders and craftsmen. In the 9th
century they founded Ireland's first towns, Dublin, Wexford, Cork and Limerick.
They also gave Ireland its name, a combination of the Gaelic word Eire and the
Viking word land. In time the Vikings settled down. They intermarried with the
Irish and accepted Christianity. Around 940 the great High King Brian Boru was born.
At that time the Danes had conquered much of the kingdom of Munster. Brian
defeated them in several battles. In 968 he recaptured Cashel, the capital of
Munster. After 976 Brian was king of Munster and in 1002 he became the High
King of Ireland. However in 1014 Leinster, the people of Dublin and the Danes
joined forces against him. Brian fought and defeated them at the battle of
Clontarf on 23 April 1014, although he was killed himself. This victory ended
the Viking threat to Ireland. However apart from being fierce raiders the Vikings were also traders and merchants and they founded several Irish towns.
In Viking Dublin living conditions were primitive. The houses were wooden huts with thatched roofs. None of them had chimneys or glass windows. In Dublin there were craftsmen like blacksmiths and carpenters, jewellers and leather workers. Other craftsmen made things like combs from bone or deer antler. There was also a wool weaving industry. In Dublin there was also a slave trade.
In the wars between Irishmen and Vikings the little town of Dublin was sacked several times. Yet each time it recovered. Dublin soon grew to be the largest and most important town in Ireland. It may have had a population of 4,000 in the 11th century. That seems very small to us but it was a large town by the standards of the time when settlements were very small.
According to tradition Cork was founded by St Finnbarre in the 7th century. He built an abbey there. Its name comes from the Gaelic Corcaigh, which means marshy place. For centuries the abbey at Cork flourished and it was famous for learning. However in 820 the Vikings raided the abbey and the settlement nearby. The Vikings then created their own town on an island in the River Lee.
The Vikings also founded Waterford. The exact year Waterford was founded is not known. However according to tradition it was around 853 but some people believe it was actually founded later in 914. The Vikings called it weather fjord. Why weather? Perhaps it was a place where ships could shelter from the weather. An earth rampart protected Viking Waterford. The Vikings also built a fort on the site of Reginald's Tower in Waterford.
The Vikings founded Limerick in 922 AD. It was an obvious place to build a town because it was an island between the Shannon and the Abbey River and so was easily defended. Limerick soon became a thriving little town. However the Vikings fought each other as well as fighting the Irish. In 924 Vikings from Dublin attacked Limerick but they were repulsed.
Then in 968 the Irish captured Limerick. They killed many of the inhabitants. In 969 the Vikings recaptured Limerick. However in the early 11th century the Irish again captured Limerick. Gradually the Vikings were absorbed into Irish society.