Two competing visions of Ireland are played out in their works, but each, in his own way, transformed the study of medieval Ireland. By Ruairí Cullen The dawn of ‘scientific’ history writing in the nineteenth century produced little original work on the Anglo-Normans in Ireland. Historians had not been kind to Strongbow and his companions, … Read more
It was not a foregone conclusion in 1169 that Ireland would become ‘England’s first colony’. By Colin Veach Although the invasion of Ireland in 1169 was broadly ‘English’ in its context and character, the political system presided over by its ultimate beneficiary, Henry of Anjou (King Henry II), stretched well beyond England to encompass much … Read more
By Nicholas Furlong In 1169 and 1170, events of enormous significance in the history of County Wexford—and, indeed, of Ireland—took place: the landing of Norman mercenaries in Bannow and Baginbun in south-east Wexford. By then the Norse had been in Wexford for 350 years. Their place-names and family names proclaim their presence. Examples are Tuskar, … Read more
By Marie Bourke The monumental history painting The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife (pp 36–7) by Daniel Maclise has an iconic status at the National Gallery of Ireland (NGI). Maclise captures the marginal moment of Strongbow’s marriage to Aoife, which became regarded as an event of political and symbolic importance in marking the establishment of … Read more
By Stuart Kinsella Strongbow, or Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare, was buried in 1176 in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin ‘within sight of the hallowed cross’. So said Gerald of Wales, yet nothing is known of Strongbow’s tomb before it was damaged by the collapse of the cathedral’s south wall in 1562. A nearby mural … Read more