Invasion

The invasions of Ireland begin in a similar strand with many other Northern European countries. It is the strand of Viking raids followed by Viking invasions.

The feudal societies of lands like England, France, and Ireland created weak borders which offered up easy raiding targets for the Vikings. The other cause of the raids was the very society of the Vikings, Norsemen. They were a society of tribal kings who ruled strips of land with a loyal war-band. These war-band's were kept loyal primarily by loot of war and the gifts of their kings. By raiding the shores of France, England, and Ireland, striking the rich monasteries, the kings satisfied the lust for war and loot in their war-bands as well as obtaining gifts to give out at their many feasts.

The invasions were caused by the overpopulation of Norway and Sweden. The Vikings, who knew intimately the rich lands they were raiding and how to get there, saw in those places an opportunity for new and more prosperous lives.

Since they were newcomers in Ireland, the Vikings built close to the sea for supply and in tight communities for safety. This is understood through the establishment of cities like Dublin in a largely rural country. The Vikings also began to take Irish wives, therefore integrating themselves with the community and eventually losing their own language and distinctive culture to that of Celtic Ireland, though some aspects of their culture did survive.

Here's a picture of Nicole dressed as a Viking woman to illustrate what the wives of the Vikings might have looked like, minus the flowery boots of course.

The next set of invaders of Ireland were the Normans. One man named Strongbow started the flood. He was a Norman lord brought over from Wales after the Norman conquest of England. A local Irish chieftain brought Strongbow over as an ally in an effort to regain lands he had lost. Strongbow was given the Irish chieftain's daughter in exchange for his help and so, when the chieftain died, Strongbow inherited the lands.

Other Norman lords came over shortly after Strongbow. Norman architecture is clearly seen in places like Aughnanure Castle and other castles all over Ireland. You can drive down the most obscure country roads and see a looming Norman tower house just glaring down on the road and surrounding countryside from the top of a hillock or even just the center of a field.

Here is a picture of Aughnanure, a Norman style tower house with surrounding fortifications.

These Norman lords grew powerful in their holdings on Ireland. And so their king in England (probably a descendant of William the Conqueror or William himself) decided to enforce his lordship over them. And thus came the presence of a foreign crown in Ireland and the stepping stone for the English claim of dominance.

For the English, Ireland as well as Scotland became their first provinces, their first subject kingdoms. Evidence for the influence of English colonialism is seen in the Protestant Ascendancy. The English sent to Ireland protestants from Scotland, troublesome as they were to the Church of England. The king also rewarded large grants of land to Protestant English lords.

Here is a small section written by Nicole Walker about her experience regarding Christ Church cathedral and St. Patrick's cathedral.

"Christ Church and St. Patrick’s are two churches close in proximity in the Dublin area.  Both churches are medieval, Gothic style cathedrals with rich history.  Christ Church has been Church of Ireland in practice since the English Reformation and contains the body of Strongbow who is heavily connected with the cathedral. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is today the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland and also serves as a popular tourist attraction in Ireland.  Both churches have choirs that have come together to put on concerts, one of them being the first performance of Handel’s Messiah in Dublin"