One thousand years ago in Clontarf.

slowburner

For the year that's in it. 23rd of April 1014 - a significant milestone in Irish history.
There are many interesting questions to be answered about the realities of Clontarf from both an historical and archaeological point of view and it looks like there will be plenty to see and do over the coming months.

http://www.museum.ie/en/exhibition/gallery/clontarf-1014-photo-gallery.aspx

redbaron_99

There really should be more buzz about this; it was such a major event in Irish history.

touts

redbaron_99 wrote: »

There really should be more buzz about this; it was such a major event in Irish history.

Well it happened before 1913 so none of the history shows on RTE will cover it and Brian Boru was neither an artist nor a philosopher so Talking History on Newstalk aren't interested.

redbaron_99

touts wrote: »

Well it happened before 1913 so none of the history shows on RTE will cover it and Brian Boru was neither an artist nor a philosopher so Talking History on Newstalk aren't interested.

I wonder how different it would have been if Leonardo DiCaprio had managed to get funding for his Brian Boru movie.

slowburner

Upcoming conference on Clontarf.
http://www.eventbrite.ie/e/clontarf-1014-2014-a-conference-to-mark-the-millenium-of-the-battle-of-clontarf-tickets-10538094725?aff=efblike

slowburner

A series of videos exploring aspects of Viking life in Ireland - from the National Museum of Ireland.
http://irisharchaeology.ie/2014/04/viking-ireland-a-fantastic-series-of-videos-by-the-national-museum-of-ireland/

Meathlass

Supplement in today's Irish Times about the Battle of Clontarf

Ipso

redbaron_99 wrote: »

There really should be more buzz about this; it was such a major event in Irish history.

From what I remember of my national school history days the battle was about Brian saving Ireland from the marauding vikings. But wasn't it a lot more complex? Vikings groups fighting in both sides, Brian's designs on the uiNiall territories etc

slowburner

From the Irish Times, a visual guide to the events of 1014.
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/how-the-battle-of-clontarf-unfolded-1.1755969

eire4

Ipso wrote: »

From what I remember of my national school history days the battle was about Brian saving Ireland from the marauding vikings. But wasn't it a lot more complex? Vikings groups fighting in both sides, Brian's designs on the uiNiall territories etc

It certainly was more complex and there were viking groups fighting on both sides.

dubhthach

Battle of Tara in 980 was probably more important when it came to restricting Viking power in Ireland. Of course Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill didn't have the same sorta propgandists as Dál gCais did. That and his own dynsty basically were sidelined from late 11th century onwards (Clann Cholmáin). Of course loosing most of their territory with the creation of the Lordship of Meath.

Ó MAOILSHEACHLAINN—I—O Mulshaghlen, O Melaghlin, (MacLaughlin, MacLoughlin, &c., Ó Loughlan, Ó Loughlin); 'descendant of Maolsheachlainn' (servant of St. Secundinus); the name of a once celebrated Meath family, of the race of Niall of the Nine Hostages, who derive their descent from Maelsheachlainn, or Malachy II, King of Ireland, who was dethroned by Brian Boru and died in the year 1022. The clan-name of the O Melaghlins and their co-relatives was Clann Cholmain. Before the Anglo-Norman invasion they were kings of Meath, but after that period their power greatly declined. Meath was granted to Hugh de Lacy, and for many centuries the O Melaghlens were confined to the barony of Clonlonan in Westmeath. They were, however, one of the five Irish families who had the privilege of using English laws. In the reign of James I they were again stripped of a considerable portion of what remained of their ancient patrimony; and so completely had this ancient and once powerful family been ruined by the confiscations of the 17th century that in the attainders of 1691 there appears but one person of the name, Maolseachlin O Melaghlin, of Lough Mask, Co. Mayo. The name is now everywhere disguised under the anglicised forms of MacLaughlin, MacLoughlin, &c

---

CLANN CHOLMAIN, race of Colman Mor, son of Diarmaid, son of Fearghus Cirrbel, son of Conall Cremhthainne, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages; the chief clan of the southern Ui Neill (which see); the clan-name of the O'Melaghlens and their correlatives in Meath.

eire4

dubhthach wrote: »

Battle of Tara in 980 was probably more important when it came to restricting Viking power in Ireland. Of course Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill didn't have the same sorta propgandists as Dál gCais did. That and his own dynsty basically were sidelined from late 11th century onwards (Clann Cholmáin). Of course loosing most of their territory with the creation of the Lordship of Meath.

Here is a little piece on the Battle of Tara which supports the view that it was actually a more decisive defeat for Viking power or at least the Viking power base at Dublin.


On one side there was a Norse army from the Kingdom of Dublin supported by troops from the Hebrides, which was commanded by a son of Olaf Cuaran named Ragnall./SIZE][SIZE=2]1[/SIZE][SIZE=2 The other side was led by Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, who had recently come to power as head of the southern Uí Néill. The latter's force consisted of troops from his home province of Meath (the Kingdom of Mide), probably with strong support from troops from Leinster and Ulster.
The battle ended in a devastating defeat for the Norse of Dublin./SIZE][SIZE=2]1[/SIZE][SIZE=2 Olaf abdicated and died in religious retirement in Iona./SIZE][SIZE=2]1[/SIZE][SIZE=2 Dublin was besieged by the victorious Máel Sechnaill, who forced it to surrender slaves and valuables, as well as give up all its prior claims to Uí Néill held territory./SIZE][SIZE=2]1[/SIZE][SIZE=2 In the following decade, Dublin was more or less under the control of Máel Sechnaill and the southern Uí Néill.
The Battle of Tara is regarded as a far more decisive defeat for the Norse of Dublin than the later, and much more famous, Battle of Clontarf. Olaf Cuaran was the last of the great Norse kings in Ireland, and following him the Kingdom of Dublin was never of the same status as before.

slowburner

Well worth putting in the diary.
_______________________________________________________

The Vikings: New Archaeological Discoveries

National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Kildare Street
Ceramics Room, first floor
Saturday 24 May 2014 10AM – 4PM
Admission: €10 (Payable on the day, tea & coffee included)

On Saturday 24 May, in association with the Embassy of Denmark in Ireland, the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology will host a day of talks exploring new and exciting discoveries about the Viking world. International experts from museums in Ireland and abroad will present their latest findings and provide fresh perspectives on life 1,000 years ago.

Talks

A Royal Palisade – Recent results of excavations at Jelling in Jutland, Denmark
Dr Anne Pedersen, Curator and Senior Researcher, National Museum of Denmark

The Viking Conquest of England: Not as smooth as planned
Dr Gareth Williams, Curator, British Museum

Foreign Artifacts in the Hands of Vikings – Looted and Imported Irish Objects Discovered in Southern Scandinavia
Dr Maria Panum Baastrup, Curator, National Museum of Denmark

Some new Viking sites outside Dublin
Eamonn P. Kelly, Keeper of Irish Antiquities, National Museum of Ireland

Back from the deep: Newly discovered Viking Age weapons
Dr Andrew Halpin, Assistant Keeper, Irish Antiquities Division and Carol Smith, Archaeological Conservator, National Museum of Ireland

These events are supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
___________________________________________________________________

Places limited. Booking is essential. Not wheelchair accessible. Ages 14+

For more information and to book a place contact the Education and Outreach Department at:
Phone: +353 1 648 6334/339 or Email: educationarch@museum.ie

Further details regarding this seminar may be found here.

For more information on the new exhibition ‘Clontarf 1014: Brian Boru and the Battle for Dublin’ and for upcoming events see: http://www.museum.ie/en/exhibition/clontarf-1014.aspx