Brian Boru & the Vikings - Ireland in Schools

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