Irish History A Brief Historiography - Essay Example

The first Normans landed in Ireland or at least the descendants of the Normans who had conquered England from 1066 onwards. Little did Diarmuid McMorrough (King of Leinster) know that his action of involving outsiders in sorting out a local political dispute with rival clans would have such a profound effect on the history of Ireland for centuries to come. Up to that point, Ireland was largely an independent entity and mainly Christian in character. Ireland had played its part in illuminating the “Dark Ages” in the 4th Century when she had brought the Christian faith to all parts of Europe through the exploits of the adventurous monks like St.

Colmcille where he and his like founded monasteries not only in England and Scotland but also in the furthest ends of Europe. This era was known as “Ireland of the saints and scholars”. Prior to the Normans, or more accurately the descendants of the Normans who had settled largely in Wales, the Vikings had plundered and traded with the native Irish and had assimilated into Irish society blending their own unique culture with that of the locals. Many of Ireland’s great cities and towns such as Dublin, Waterford, and Wexford developed and prospered on Viking trade.

What was different about the Norman invasion from other intrusions was their sheer military strength, their administration and their ability to apply law and order to the lands they had conquered. Their administration was far in advance of anything in existence in Ireland on their arrival.. Ireland had played its part in illuminating the "Dark Ages" in the 4th Century when she had brought the Christian faith to all parts of Europe through the exploits of the adventurous monks like St. Colmcille (Columba) where he and his like founded monasteries not only in England and Scotland but also in the furthest ends of Europe.

This era was known as "Ireland of the saints and scholars". Prior to the Normans, or more accurately the descendants of the Normans who had settled largely in Wales, the Vikings had plundered and traded with the native Irish and had assimilated into Irish society blending their own unique culture with that of the locals. Many of Ireland's great cities and towns such as Dublin, Waterford and Wexford developed and prospered on Viking trade. What was different about the Norman invasion from other intrusions was their sheer military strength, their administration and their ability to apply law and order to the lands they had conquered.

Their administration was far in advance of anything in existence in Ireland on their arrival. To the native Irish it must have seemed that their entire world as they knew it was completely turned on its head. How could they fight or compete with such a powerful force To a great extent the early settlers were more like adventurers, advancing their own self interest, - a point not wasted on Henry II who was quick to see the security implications for his own kingdom. It was imperative that he gain some measure of control and this is what he did.

Up to Tudor times the Norman conquest of Ireland was limited to certain areas of the country, mostly to strongholds in the province of Leinster and particularly around Dublin. This area was known as "the Pale"1 which was roughly a forty mile radius