By the early 10th Century, Ireland had been heavily
colonised by the Viking raiders, who formed small yet powerful kingdoms
along the Eastern and Southern Coastlines.
This map of Ireland displays the chief Viking enclaves of Dublin, Wexford,
Waterford and Cork, constantly at war with each other and the Irish petty
Kingdoms. It seemed there would be no respite from the Viking menace, until
a ferocious Celtic warrior, Brian Boru, King of Munster, came to power in the
South...
Sweeping Northwards, Brian's forces destroyed a united Norse army at
the Battle of Clontarf, in 1014ad. Brian died shortly after the battle, but
Viking power in Ireland was shattered forever.
