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attle of Clontarf, 1014 AD

 

It might feel like a stretch as you catch the city bus from Dublin, Ireland, to the seaside suburb of Clontarf, that the mighty High King of Ireland, Brian Boru brought the Viking occupation of Ireland to an end there in 1014.  Look about you on Vernon Street at the supermarket and many pubs and try to imagine the High King’s death by an assassin’s hand after that monumental battle.

Brian’s dream was to unite the many fragmented domains of Irish kings and chieftains under one ruler, strengthening the island against what he guessed would be a relentless series of invasions.  He at first tried diplomacy, orchestrating numerous intermarriages between Irish rulers and also building alliances with external leaders – he married members of his family to kin of MacBeth of Scotland and Harold Godwinson of England, for example.  Sadly, these efforts proved ineffective, so in 1014 Brian gathered his warriors and headed east to confront an alliance between the King of Dublin, Sigtrygg Silkbeard, and his Leinster ally, King Máel Mórda mac Murchada, as well as mercenaries from Sigurd Lodvesson, Earl of Orkney and Brodir the Isle of Man.

In 1014 Clontarf was little more than typical beautiful Irish seaside.  When Brian approached Dublin, he learned that the combined Norse forces had departed Dublin by ship.  He thought they had given up their plans for domination, but they had instead meant to sail to Clontarf and fall on Boru’s forces there.    Brian had just lost the support of his primary ally, ex-high king Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill , but still had 4,500 warriors.  They were poorly equipped compared to the various Norse forces, however.   Most of the Dublin warriors remained behind the city walls, but the mercenaries and the King of Leinster’s men met Brian on the open ground.

On the morning of 23 April 1014, the Viking and Leinster forces faced off with Brian, his own and his remaining allies and Hired Viking mercenaries.  Battle began with ritual insults and individual combat, then spread to the rest of the armies.  At first the Vikings with their superior weapons were winning, but gradually Brian’s forces forced them back.  Sigurd was killed and Brodir chased into the woods where he hid.  Brian’s son Murragh was killed.  When the Vikings saw that their route to their ships was taken, many tried to swim out to them and drowned.  The Dublin warriors fighting outside their walls finally took flight back to safety.  Brodir and his retainers stumbled across Brian praying in his tent and fell on and killed him and his own retainers.  (Brodir was hunted and brutally killed soon after in revenge.)  Though Brian’s forces were victorious, his and his sons’ deaths resulted in an end to the dream of Irish unity.

 

The tiny 12^th century settlements near Clontarf and the rest of the Dublin area found themselves conquered by Henry II of England’s commander Strongbow in 1172.  Strongbow gave his follower, Adam de Pheypo, who built the first Clontarf Castle.  Subsequently a manor house and church were held first by the knights Templar and then the Hospitallers.  Two holy wells were established, one of which named for Brian Boru is still there.

Clontarf Castle was burned to the ground by Oliver Cromwell’s forces in 1644.  The land was gifted to the Vernon family, but whether by Cromwell or Charles II is in dispute.  The family held onto the property for nearly 300 years.  The occupation of the slowly growing populous during this period was fishing, fish drying, and farming.  In the 19^th century Clontarf became a fashionable holiday spot with a horse tram linking it to Dublin proper.  When later a tramline was built, it became even more popular with its seafront views and beaches. During the 20^th century it lost its status as an independent political entity and now is considered one of the inner suburbs of Dublin.

The manor house (later a hotel) presently at Clontarf dates to the 19^th century, its towerhouse is a replica of the Templar structure.  The current church, an Anglican congregation, is from the 17^th century and features the first use of red brick in Ireland.

Today Clontarf is part of Dublin.  Among the famous residents of Clontarf were Dracula’s author Bram Stoker and actor Barry Fitzgerald.

 

Battle of Clontarf,
Ireland ~ 1014 AD

 

 

Nan Hawthorne is a historical novelist living in the Pacific Northwest.  Her novels include An Involuntary King: A Tale of Anglo Saxon England and Beloved Pilgrim, a novel of the Crusade of 1101. Visit Nan at NanHawthorne.com