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Period: Apr 22, 700 to Apr 22, 1100
The Vikings in Ireland
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Apr 22, 1011
Brian Boru is last ever High King of Ireland
King Brian continues to expand his territory and becomes Ireland’s last ever High King. With the whole country under one ruler, it was, for a brief period, at peace. However, Brian had made many enemies, who were biding their time to reclaim their territories. -
Apr 23, 1014
The Battle of Clontarf
The Battle of Clontarf took place on Good Friday 23 April. The armies of Brian Boru and Máel Mórda took place in the battle that would change the power structure of the country. The battle lasted from sunrise until sunset and between 7,000 and 10,000 men were killed. Mórda, Brian and Brian’s son and grandson were among the casualties. -
The Vikings arrive in Ireland
The Norse Vikings from modern-day Norway arrive in Ireland for the first time and land in Dublin Bay. They violently attacked the monastery on Lambay Island, and sailed away with all the treasure they could carry. -
Set up settlements along the coast
The Vikings set up numerous settlements along the coast which would go on to become some of the country’s major cities – Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford. -
Danish Vikings invade Ireland
The Danish Vikings arrived in Ireland and attacked the Norse Vikings. Over the years the Vikings would have rivalries with other Vikings as much as with the Irish. Likewise, the Irish kings and chieftains would be happy to form alliances with Vikings in order to defeat another Irish clan -
Irish clan defeats Vikings in Dublin
Irish clans defeat the Vikings in Dublin and force them out of the town. The Vikings flee to Britain. While in Britain, the Dublin Vikings saw that the towns were more advanced than the one they had built in Dublin. They became aware of greater possibilities. -
Vikings returned to seize Dublin
The Vikings returned to seize control of Dublin. They put what they learnt in the British towns into practice and before long had built a stockade around the town to protect the residents from attacks from outside the walls. -
Irish burned Dublin to ground
After years of conflict between the Vikings and the Irish, the Irish burned Dublin to the ground. However the Vikings were more resilient than they had been in 902 and quickly rebuilt the town. -
Brian Boru becomes King
Brian Boru becomes king of the Dál gCais, a small kingdom in the south west of Ireland.
