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34
LEINSTER
the most famous of modern golf links, that long narrow
spit of sand which is called the North Bull. But
you also look across the scene of one of the notable
battles of history. Between the North Bull and the
Liffey mouth is Clontarf, where the fight raged on
Good Friday in the year 1014, when Brian Boru
inflicted on the Danes of Dublin and their allies from
the Orkneys and from far-off Scandinavia— yes, and
Irish allies too—a defeat which was felt all through
the regions that the vikings haunted. It is true to
say that that victory stemmed the advancing tide
of barbarism. Brian won for Christianity rather than
for Ireland, and he lost his life in the fight.
Just near Clontarf parish church, in the grounds
of a private house is a yew tree under which, they
say, men laid down the slain king, nine hundred years
ago. Whether that be historically true or no we
cannot say; but, I am told, experts agree that no
other yew tree in these islands has an appearance
of antiquity at all comparable to this giant, which,
still lusty, covers fully a rood of ground. Try and
see it on your way from Howth: much can be got
(in Ireland) by civil asking.