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SCANDINAVIAN ANTIQUITIES OF DUBLIN. 113
CHAPTER IV.
DUBLIN AND THE SCOTTISH ISLES.
The Hebrides and Orkneys visited by Irish ecclesiastics long before their
occupation by the Scandinavians. Saint Coluinba retired from Ireland
to Ily (one of the Hebrides), A.D. 563. Founded a monastery there.
The Scandinavians plunder Hy-Colum-Cille, A.D. 802. From the
Orkneys and Hebrides they plunder in Ireland, Scotland, and Norway
Harald Haarfagr, King of Norway, sends Ketill Flatnef against
them Ketill becomes their leader. Allies himself with Aulaf, the
White, King of Dublin. Marries his daughter. Scandinavian
ravagei
in Spain and Africa. They land their Moorish captives in Ireland.
Spanish, Irish, and Scandinavian histories confirm this account.
THE intercourse between Dublin and Iceland neces- BOOKII.
sarily increased that previously existing between
CHAP IV
Dublin, the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Scottish isles.
Like Iceland, the islands to the west and north of
Scotland were known to the Irish, and had been
visited by Irish ecclesiastics long, prior to the
earliest accounts of Scandinavian invasion. St.
Columba, one of the royal family of Ireland, and
allied to that of the Dalriada of Scotland, being
banished from Ireland, went to the Hebrides, and in
A.D. 563 founded a monastery at Hy, where his monks
peacefully resided until the close of the eighth
century, when " the Pagan Norsemen laid waste the
islands between Ireland and Scotland," and in A.D. 802
again plundered and burned " Hy-Colum-Cille," and
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slew sixty-eight of the clergy." Lyiug in the track
of the invaders, the Hebrides and Orkneys became
the resort of all who sought new homes or the
excitement or plunder of Viking expeditions. Before
Colgau, Actt , S.S., p. 241, con- c. vii., s. ii., pp. 38, Ixxv., Le-
cerning St. Albens. tronne, Paris, 1814.
Adaranan'9 Life of St. Columba Ann. Four Mast., 801, 802;
by William Reeves, D.D., 1857. Ann. Ult., A.D. 801.
Dicuil De Mcnsura Orbis Teme,
I