WEXFORD LONGPHORT MAC

Since most contemporary records about the Vikings come from monastic sources, or those who had most reason to dislike and fear them, this may explain the typical largely negative image we have of the ‘vicious Vikings’. So the fluctuating fortunes, shifting alliances and dynastic feuds between all three groups, where monastery fought monastery, and tribes and Vikings formed temporary alliances certainly suggests a turbulent time for Ireland.įurthermore, despite the tradition in Ireland of a High King, this endless anarchy inhibited any sense of national identity or unity.

WEXFORD LONGPHORT MAC

For example in one period of 25 years (820-847), 26 Viking raids are recorded, whilst 86 raids by Irish clans are recorded! 'Fedelmid Mac Crimthainn, King of Munster and Bishop of Cashel (820-47), earned the reputation for burning more churches than the Vikings of his time.' Other sources attest to more than one hundred warring kingdoms and sub-kingdoms, as well as rival monastic 'paruchia' (groups of monasteries, ruled by secular families), and the Vikings. As they were a pagan people they had no problem looting these religious centres, destroying sacred documents and historic accounts, and returning home armed with riches and relics, many of which were subsequently found in Scandinavian burials and are now on display in northern museums!īut during this period of Irish history, Irish Clans were often also at war with each other and raids and skirmishes were by no means a novelty. The period 795-836 saw countless hit and run raids by the Norsemen and the Danes, where plunder and looting the wealthy monasteries was for the time being their main aim. For the following forty years these violent raids continued. Often founded on isolated outcrops of land or headland, the monasteries were very vulnerable in location and structure, and so were ideal prey for Vikings seeking wealthy loot. The sight of these heavily armed marauders, dressed in animal furs and horned helmets must have struck fear and dread into the hearts of the islanders, who were mostly monks and farmers at this time.įirst sighted off the coast of Ireland as fishermen of porpoise and dolphins, the invaders increasingly turned their attention to the many monastic settlements which were often large and busy communities, producing valuable artefacts and sacred manuscripts.

On the west coast the monasteries on Inismurray and Inisbofin were also plundered, and in the same year the island of Iona was attacked. The beginning of the Viking Age in Ireland is traditionally marked by the ominous days in 795, when Scandinavian invaders ran the prows of their longships onto the beaches of Lambay Island off the coast of Dublin, where the monastery of St Colmcille was plundered, and Rathlin Island off the coast of Co.

Wexford longphort