Brian Boru & the Vikings - Ireland in Schools

Ireland in Key Stage 2 History
The Vikings
The Vikings and Ireland
Brian Boru - national hero
Initial teacher training: Lesson plans
by
Student-teachers
of
Paul Bracey
Senior Lecturer in Education (History)
Northampton University College
University College, Northampton
School of Education Northampton Pilot Scheme ’Ireland in Schools

Contents
Introduction
Lesson plan 1: Brian Boru
Sources
Examples of children•s responses
Lesson plan 2: Brian Boru - a hero
Sources

Introduction
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 1

Lesson plan 1 - Brian Boru: character and achievements
Date: 14/06/00 Year Group: 6
Group size:
Location of Group: Tables
Main Subject Focus: The Vikings - The character and achievements of Brian Boru
Learning objectives
To use and compare different texts to gain an interpretation of Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf.
Previous knowledge
Vikings, where they came from, the aspect of raiders and killers.
Teaching and learning strategies
‘ Whole class introduction (10 mins), after which the children are separated into small groups
‘ Main task (45 mins)
(1st part):
Children read different texts as group. Pick individual children to read.
Discuss what they have found from the texts. Do they think the sources are true. Is the text
informative
Give children question cards. True/false, reasonings and evidence for their ideas
(2nd part):
Children make up their own questions. Comparison - discussion of King Alfred. With other
group. Discuss their own ideas.
Vocabulary
Brian Boru
King Alfred
Vikings
Ard-Ri
Felled
Foreigners
Pagan
Brodir
Evidence
Victorious.
Resources
Question sheets
Text sheets
Cartoon sheets x 2
Dictionaries.
Differentiation
To observe the children and differentiate appropriately.
Plenary
In front of whole class, discuss their ideas and findings.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 2

Question card
Read and discuss the different sections of text.
Decide whether they support or oppose each of the following statements.
Think about your answers and decide why you think this and what evidence there is
to support your ideas.
1. Brian Boru•s religion was an important aspect in his life.
2. The Battle of Clontarf is the most important battle because the Irish defeated the
Vikings.
3. During the Battle of Clontarf Brian was a ferocious fighter.
4. Brian was a young warrior who fought for his country•s rights.
5. Brian died bravely during the battle as he fought the Vikings.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 3

Source 1
Morgan Llywelyn & Michael Scott, Ireland. A Graphic History, Element, Dorset 1995
I N T R O D U C T I O N
In the tenth century an obscure Irish chieftain from the banks of the
Shannon made his reputation fighting Vikings, then rose to become king of
the province of Munster and ultimately High King. In the Book of Armagh,
Brian Boru would one day style himself Emperor of the Irish.
Ireland had never seen anything like him. He was an exceptional
combination of warrior and statesman, a pragmatic strategist who studied
the careers of Caesar and Charlemagne, and won as many battles through
psychology as with the sword. He also loved poetry and played the harp.
During the course of his long life he had several wives and more than thirty
concubines, and marriages which he arranged for his children passed his
blood into the royal houses of Europe.
Brian Boru was the first to envision an Ireland in which the various peoples
would flow together like many streams to form one river. With subtle
diplomacy he made allies among the Vikings who had been his enemies
and encouraged them to become part of Irish society. During his reign as
High King the island enjoyed an era of relative peace and prosperity. He
even planned the establishment of a royal dynasty that would carry his
vision for Ireland into the future.
Then in 1014, rebellion. Brian had set aside his troublesome wife
Gormlaith, a princess of Leinster. By an earlier marriage to a Viking she
was mother to Sitric Sillbeard, Viking king of Dublin. Gormlaith and her
brother Maehnora encouraged Sitric to call allies from throughout
Scandinavia to overthrow Brian and complete the conquest of Ireland. Sitric
actually offered his mother in marriage to any northman who killed Brian
Boru.
A giant of a man in his seventy third year, Brian Boru rode to battle for the
last time. At the fishing weir of Clontarf, north of Dublin, his Irish and
Viking allies fought the rebellious Leinstermen and an invasion force of
their Viking allies. At the end of that fateful Good Friday Brian had won,
and the threat of foreign domination was destroyed ... but at a terrible cost.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 4

UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 5

UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 6

UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 7

Source 2
The Battle of Clontarf web site on www.okelly.net/battles/boru.htm
The battle was scheduled for Good Friday, 1014 AD.
Brian felt much grieved that a day so sacred to the Christians should have been destined
for the work of death; but with dauntless spirit and a calm and confident exterior he issued
orders for arranging troops in order of battle.
Source 3
The Battle of Clontarf web site on www.okelly.net/battles/boru.htm
The result of the battle. (Do you think it is true)
The battle was so fierce that it is said that in places the trees wept blood and the nearby
River Tolka turned red.
Source 4
The Lion of Ireland: Brian of the Tributes web site on www.mindspring.com/~cc003636/boru.html
The Battle of Clontarf.
The Battle of Clontarf was fought on holy day, Good Friday, and the battle lasted from
early morning to the setting sun. Brian was too old to fight, but he appeared before his
troops to inspire them to their duty in the early morning. Throughout the day, Brian
prayed in his tent.... A fleeing Viking chief, Brodar of the Isle of Man, came upon Brian‘s
tent and slaying several body guards, he cleved the bare head of the Ard-Ri of Ireland while
he was praying thanks in his tent. But Brodar was captured later and died a most hideous
death.
Source 5
Morgan Llywelyn, Brian Boru, O Brien Press, Dublin 1990
The Battle of Clontarf, 1014 AD.
Brodir of Man was running wildly through Tomar‘s Wood ... He was the last invading
warlord left alive.
Soon Brodir, mad with fear, would stumble across a leather tent and a tall, white-haired
old man who still had his sword.
Neither would live to see the first star.
But Brian did not know this as he stood listening to the last sounds of the battle. He knew
only that Murcha [his son] was dead, and that his army had won a mighty victory. Never
again would the Vikings try to take Ireland by force.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 8

Source 6
Liam de Paor (ed.), ’Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf , Milestones in Irish History
The Battle at Clontarf was not a struggle between the Irish and the Vikings for the
sovereignty of Ireland. Neither was it a great national victory which broke the power of
the Vikings forever. Clontarf was part of the internal struggle for sovereignty between the
great Irish provincial rulers and it was in essence the revolt of the Leinstermen against
dominance from Munster, a revolt in which the Viking allies played a very important but
secondary role.
Source 7
The Battle of Clontarf web site on www.okelly.net/battles/boru.htm
However, that illustrious, all-victorious king, fell [was killed] by the foreigners [Vikings],
in his eighty-eighth [88th] year of his age, and in the thirty-eighth [38th] year of his reign
[as king], in Mumhain; and in his twelfth year as the chief sovereignty [ruler] of Erinn.
The boy Tadk threw up an arm to protect Brian, but the sword cut off the arm and the
King's head. The King's blood spilled over the stump of the boy's arm, and the wound
healed at once. Then Brodir shouted, álet the word go round that Brodir has felled [killed]
King Brian.‘
Brian himself then became in story what he never was in fact, the defender of Ireland
against the pagan hordes of Vikings, the saviour of Christianity, the sovereign ruler of
Ireland who led the forces of the nation to victory over the foreigners. And that, of course,
is how he is remembered in popular tradition.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 9

Responses
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 10

Jamie
1. True, because the battle was scheduled for
Good Friday. (A Holy Day.) Which he didn t
like. Also because he was praying in battle.
2. False, because the Irish were fighting
themselves.
3. False, because he was to old to fight.
4. False, because he was an old man that
prayed in his tent.
5. True, because he died fighting and didn t
run away. Considering his age he was very
brave.
Jade
1. True. The Battle was fought on Good
Friday.
2. False. The Battle of clontarf was not a
struggle between the Irish and the Vikings.
3. False. He was 88 and he sat in his tent.
4. False. He had his head cut of by his tent.
5 False. He dided by haveing his head cut off.
Anon
1. Brian s religion was an important aspect of
his life because the Christians fought the
Pagans. This is proved because they fought
on good friday.
2. The battle wasn t the most important
because we know that the Irish were
fighting against the other Irish rulers.
3. Brian wasn t a ferocious fighter because he
was 88 and was praying in his tent.
4. Brian wasn t young he as 88! He didn t fight
for his countries rights he fought for his
religion.
Paul
1. True. The battle was scheduled from good
friday 1014 AD.
2. False because one of the texts is written
like a story and the other text has more
facts in it.
3. False because he was in his tent and was
eighty eight.
4. False because he was very old.
5. False because he stayed in the tent and he
got his head cut off and he didn t die
bravely. He didn t die bravely because he
just stood there because he was to old to
run or fight.
Laurence
1. True because the battle was scheduled for
good friday, a holy day. Which he didn t
like. Also because he was praying all
through the battle.
2. False because the battle was between the
Irish and the Irish.
3. False because he was 88 and too old to
fight.
4. False because he was 88 and didn t fight any
more.
5. False. We found out that some of the
legend about Brian Boru was truce once but
most of it says he is brave and he really
isn t that brave. I don t think he died
bravely because he did not try and defend
himself.
Ben
1. True, because he was unhappy that the
battle was scheduled on good Friday and he
didn t like it.
2. False, because they were actually fighting
because of each other different religions.
3. False, because it says he sat in his tent
praying.
4. True, because in the text it says he issued
orders etc.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 11

Lesson plan 2 - Brian Boru: a national hero
Date: 15/06/00 Year Group: 6
Group size: 6
Location of Group: Tables
Main Subject Focus: The Vikings - Was Brian Boru a hero
Learning objectives
‘ To learn about Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf. (Hi8a/b)
‘ To use a range of historical sources as a form of evidence for and against Boru being a hero. (Hi4a/b)
Strategies
Timings
‘ Whole class introduction (10 mins).
‘ Group introduction (10 mins).
‘ Main task (1 St part) - Defining a hero, introducing the range of sources, children putting together
evidence for and against (40 mins).
‘ Main task (2nd part) - Discuss/collating as a group evidence, refer evidence to question: Was Brian
a hero - discuss as a group, children to design Wanted• or Hero• poster (40 mins).
Teaching Strategies
‘ Group introduction and overview of the Battle of Clontarf.
Key questions: Who was Brian Boru What did he do What happened at the Battle of Clontarf
‘ Ascertain children's knowledge and understanding of a hero. Key questions:
What is a hero
Who is a hero
Why are they a hero
‘ Definition of a hero.
‘ Introduce different sources of information.
‘ Discuss as a group how the different sources can be used. Key questions:
What do they show us
What can we see from the different sources
How might they be biased towards one side
‘ Explain task - using sources to gather evidence for the case against Boru being a hero and the case
for him being a hero.
‘ Demonstrate to group using one source of evidence.
‘ Children to work in pairs when gathering evidence.
‘ Children to record their findings on a worksheet.
‘ Discuss as group findings.
‘ Relate findings to question. Do the children think Born was a hero
‘ Children to design a `Wanted' or `Hero' poster, detailing evidence for their choice.
Learning Strategies
‘ Group introduction to discuss task and ascertain children's previous knowledge.
‘ Questioning to encourage discussion and understanding.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 12

‘ Relate task e.g. What/who is a hero to children's own experiences.
‘ Using different sources of information to gather evidence.
‘ Encouraging children to select relevant evidence from the different sources of information.
‘ Children to demonstrate understanding by recording evidence for and against Boru being a hero.
‘ Relate task to main aim, group discussion - Was Brian a hero
‘ Children to demonstrate their understanding by producing a poster.
Resources
Various sources of information.
Sheet for recording evidence.
Sugar paper.
Plain paper.
Pens.
Assessment
Observation.
Questioning.
Poster.
Differentiation
Extra adult support.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 13

Prompt sheet
When researching you may wish to think about the following areas:
What was Ireland like in Boru s time (Background)
How did Boru become High King
What did Boru do whilst he was High King How did he die
What type of person was Boru
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 14

Source 1
Morgan Llywelyn & Michael Scott, Ireland. A Graphic History, Element, Dorset 1995
See pages 4-7 above.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 15

Source 2
Morgan Llywelyn, Brian Boru, O Brien Press, Dublin 1990
Brian Boru grow up in an Ireland torn by wars - chieftain against chieftain, tribe against
tribe - and devastated by the Vikings. As a boy, Brian wanted to be a mighty warrior, and
when his family were massacred by the Vikings, his only aim was to defeat these enemies
forever. But Brian was not just a fearless fighter, he was a clever, educated man. He
learned the wars of his enemies and overcame opposition, prejudice and treachery to
become High King of Ireland. In the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014 Brian Boru finally
conquered the Viking. It was his last act.
Source 3
Philippa Wingate and Anne Millard, The Viking World,
In the eighth century, Ireland was a very prosperous country. It was divided into several
kingdoms, but the kings were united under one leader called the High King. Irish
monasteries had become the focus of learning and of great wealth and were a good target
for the Vikings. Raiders first appeared in the 799s and carried out swift, vicious raids on
isolated coastal villages and monasteries.
In 839, the Vikings came in large numbers. Norwegian fleets arrived and the warriors built
fortified camps where they spent the winter. These camps grow into Ireland‘s first cities
such as Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Cork.
Merchants from all over the Viking world came to buy and sell goods at the trading camps
or long-phorts, bringing wealth to Ireland. The Vikings built Scandinavian style houses
and craftsmen made goods influenced by Norse tastes. Many Norwegians married Irish
women and settled in the towns and became farmers.
The Irish tried many times to drive out the Viking intruders. Their best chance came at the
beginning of the eleventh century.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 16

Source 4
Brian Boru, High King of Ireland web site on www.maui.net/~mauifun/bboru.htm
Brian Boru was a Christian, he had battled the ancestors of the
O•Neills for many years and was the rebuilder of Viking-ravaged
monasteries and churches, Boru also built forts, and at the age of 74
he commanded an army of thousands, he battled royally against the
Viking soldiers, his army slaying some 7000 Vikings.
In 1005 AD Boru reached Armagh, leading several armies from
Munster, Leinster, Meath, Connacht and Norse Dublin. He had
come to the North two times previously, only to be repelled by the
Ulster kings. The Church had recognized Boru•s claim to supremacy
after he paid 20 ounces of gold to have the Church inscribe his name
in the Book of Armagh as the Emperor of the Irish•. A year later he
established his claim with a circuit around Ulster. But Brian had
difficulties, the Leinster and Dublin armies called in allies from the
Viking world, creating the scenario for the battle that lead to Brian•s
death.
It was Good Friday in the year 1014, and the battle lasted from
sunrise to sunset. The battle was called the Battle of Clontarf• and
was also known as the Battle of Brian, and it ended the domination
of the Ui Neill, the ancestors of the O•Neill's of Tyrone and
Clandeboye.
Brian Boru was killed in his tent, by King Brodar of Man, following
Clontarf, and 4000 other Irishmen also died that day, still King Brian
was considered triumphant. He was killed along with Sigurd, who
was Earl of the Orkneys, the King of Leinster, also two Connacht
kings were slain, and Brian Boru•s son, Murchadh were all killed
along with many others of noble blood.
Brian Boru
An artists fictional rendering
Brian Boru is remembered as one of the greatest hereos of all Ireland
because he ended any hope of the Viking•s ever capturing Ireland.
Brian Boru reportedly had 4 wives and 30 concubines and many,
many Irish families trace their ancestral heritage to Brian Boru.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 17

Source 5
Brian Boru, web site on www.sleeping-giant.ie/bealick/boru.htm
The Battle of Bealach Leachta, in 978, marked the first major defeat of the Danes in
Ireland and established Brian Boru as a serious contender for position of Ard Ri (High
King) of Ireland.
The battle was the climax of a power-struggle between the Dal gCais of North Munster and
the Lords of Carbery. Mahon of the Dal gCais was captured by Imar, a Limerick Dane
who was allied to the O‘Donovans and O‘Mahonys of Carbery. Imar delivered Mahon, a
brother of Brian Boru of Kincora, into the hands of Maolmuidh of the O‘Mahonys, who
killed him at Aghabullogue.
Brian Boru came seeking revenge, first despatching Imar the Dane, then picking off
O‘Donovan, and then meeting the O‘Mahonys at Bealach Leachta. A fierce battle was
waged all day on the riverside plain - Brian's army had swelled as many minor chieftains
began to recognise his potential, and Maolmuidh had the support of the remains of the
O‘Donovan clan and 1500 Danes.
Maolmuidh and his troops were forced back, and Maolmuidh took refuge at Leacha Dubh
(site of Macroom Golf Course), where he was found and killed. Fulfilling a curse put on
him for the assassination of Mahon, Maolmuidh is buried on the north side of the hill,
where the sun never shines, under a harsh wind.
Following the battle Brian Boru was crowned King of Munster. Three standing stones
were erected on the site of the battle (of which two remain). One is known as Leacht
Mahon.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 18

Source 6
F. Donald Logan, The Vikings in History, Routledge, London 1983
What, then, of the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 Was this not the event by which Brian Boru
stopped the Viking threat once and for all and saved Ireland Legends die hard, and
perhaps no legend will die harder than the legend of Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf,
for there are so many people in Ireland who claim descent from this legendary hero.
As the legend would have it, Brian emerged from the fastnesses of deepest Clare as
overking of the south and in time as High King of Ireland.... Brian stood tall as the
national leader to defeat the Vikings. It was at Clontarf north of the Liffey near Dublin,
that the Irish faced the Vikings and Brian Born faced Sihtric. The Vikings had summoned
a mighty Viking army from virtually the whole Viking world.... On the eve of the battle
omens were seen across the north as far away as Iceland.... The day of battle arrived on
Good Friday, 1014; and Brian‘s Irish army, lacking the Leinstermen, who had gone over
to the Viking side ... Brian knelt on an animal skin in Tomar‘s Wood and refused himself,
to enter into combat on this sacred day. Nevertheless, the battle went ahead. First, a
champion from each side met, but with no decision. The forces of Munster then fell back
before onrushing Leinster. The remnants of the Viking army and the men of Leinster were
forced to flee their ships through a nearby wood. There they saw an old man kneeling
among a circle of warriors. Brodir, King of isle of Man, asked who this man was, and he
was told Brian Boru. Brodir raised his mighty battle sword and hit the High King of
Ireland. The day was already lost, however, and the blood of Brian Boru sealed the victory
of the Irish over the Viking. The Viking age had ended. Or, so the story goes.
Is this fact or fiction
From this tangle of fact and fiction some sifting must be done. Brian Boru had indeed
gained control over the south and, at times over parts of the north. He did lead some Irish
tribes (and even some Viking forces) at a battle at Clontarf on Good Friday in 1014.
However, his main opposition was not the Vikings, it was the King of Leinster, who had
tried to gain control over parts of Ireland. Brian Boru‘s forces were successful, but he fell
in the battle. The struggle for control and peace in Ireland struggled for a 150 years after
Clontarf, which was only one amongst many other battles. It did not destroy the power of
the Vikings. Nothing so simple as a one-day battle in the spring of 1014 could do that. The
Vikings had already become part of the Irish society and were no longer a strong force at
the time of the Battle of Clontarf.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 19

Source 7
Distribution of Scandinavian graves in the Viking Age in the British Isles
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 20