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Archive for the ‘early medieval’ Category

Female spies in 14th century Ireland…..

Posted in 14th century, Anglo Norman, audiobook, Dublin, Dublin history, early medieval, famine, Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic revival, ireland, Irish history, Medieval Europe, Medieval history, Norman Invasion, tagged , , , on August 30, 2012 | 11 Comments »

Medieval warfare was traditionally thought to be the preserve of men. However 14th century records illustrate gaelic Irish women participated in warfare acting as spies moving between the Anglo Norman colony and Gaelic Ireland.

Background

Through the course of the late 13th century, society in Ireland became increasingly violent. Wicklow and the surrounding regions were one of the places worst affected. High in the mountains gaelic society had survived the norman invasion relatively intact. From the 1270′s onwards the Gaelic Irish O Tooles, O Byrnes and Mc Murroughs were driven to raiding the Norman colony by frequent famines. In the following decades the Norman Colony in the Vale of Dublin, Kildare and the Barrow Valley were often decimated by raiding. Accounts of settlements on the fringes of Wicklow at the time are reminiscent of Deadwood.

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The Rock of Dunamase

Posted in Anglo Norman, castles, cromwell, early medieval, english civil war, Gaelic Ireland, ireland, Irish history, Medieval Europe, Medieval history, tagged , , on June 19, 2012 | 3 Comments »

The Rock of Dunmase is a stunning medieval ruin perched on a rocky outcrop a few miles east of Portlaoise, Co Laois. Overlooking the surrounding landscape the ruinous castle was once a formidable fortress. Standing atop a steep rock  it is protected on three sides by cliffs while the only accessible side was protected by a double barbican, two gatehouses and numerous defences.

Originally built in the 12th century the castle may well have been abandoned by the mid 14th century during the Gaelic revival which saw large swathes of the country reconquered by Gaelic Irish lords. Dunamase survived somewhat intact up until the arrival of Cromwellian troops in 1650. Then a ruin it was rendered unusable after being battered to pieces by cannons.

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Photo essay: Loughmoe Castle.

Posted in 17th century, Anglo Norman, Archaeology, castles, early medieval, Gaelic Ireland, Irish history, tour, tagged , , , , , on April 4, 2012 | 4 Comments »

Loughmoe Castle is situated on the banks of the river Suir in North Tipperary. Built between the 15th and 17th centuries it was the seat of Barons of Loughmoe, the Anglo-Norman Purcell family. The earliest surviving structure on the site is a tower house which was transformed into the northern wing of a fortified house in the 17th century. In its new form as a fortified house the castle composed of two towers joined by what was known in the locality as “the court”. The castle stands outside the village of Loughmoe, close to the ruins of Loughmoe Abbey and the resting place of the famous Cormack brothers. Despite these widespread renovations Loughmoe castle was abandoned by the mid 18th century.

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(980 -1000) The Pursuit of Power (Part III): A New Millenium and A New King.

Posted in 10th century, Annals, Archaeology, Brian Boru, Dal Cais, Dublin, early medieval, Episode 10, Gaelic Ireland, Irish history, Medieval Europe, Medieval history, O Neills, Podcast on November 3, 2011 | 7 Comments »

Episode 10 sees the emergence of a titantic struggle between the two major players of the late 10th century – the O Neill High King, Maelseachnaill II and Brian Boru, the King of Munster. This war was without question one of  the greatest conflicts in early medieval Ireland.

In a story full of intriguing naval attacks, sieges and deceit the superpowers of 10th century Ireland, unleash their devastating military power on each other with fascinating consequences.  This episode also takes a look at daily life in Ireland  around 1000 CE recreating the sights and smells while looking at the strange diseases that could kill you if war didnt get you first!

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The Pursuit of Power (Part III) A New Millennium and A New King (980 – 1000)

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The rise and fall of the Knights Templar in Ireland.

Posted in 14th century, Dublin, Dublin history, early medieval, Gaelic Ireland, Irish history, Medieval Europe, Medieval history, Medieval Monasticism, tagged , on August 10, 2011 | 9 Comments »

When we think of the Knights Templar, we picture the Middle Eastern Crusades or Dan Browne’s fantasy novel the The Da Vinci code. However this fascinating organisation were very much part of European society in the 12th and 13th century with houses, called preceptories, in most kingdoms in Medieval Europe. After the Norman Invasion of Ireland the Templars became a part of Norman society here for nearly 150 years. However like their counterparts across Europe the Templars in Ireland were ruthlessly suppressed amidst bizarre allegations between 1308 and 1310.

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Dunmore Cave: following in the footsteps of 1100 year old murderers.

Posted in 10th century, Annals, Archaeology, early medieval, episode 3, Gaelic Ireland, Irish history, Medieval Europe, Medieval history, Vikings, tagged , , on July 5, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Dunmore cave, Co Kilkenny is pretty unique. Aside from its impressive geological features, it is one of the few places in Ireland where archaeology and history match up perfectly shedding light on a particularly dark chapter in the caves history.

Deep in a dark recess of Dunmore cave the discovery of human remains and viking coins verify a grim entry from the Annals of the Four Masters about a massacre in 930. This discovery gives a terrifyingly vivid insight into early medieval ireland, often difficult since much of the landscape has changed so much.

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(944 – 980) The Pursuit of Power (part II): The Rise of Brian Boru and the Dál Cais

Posted in 10th century, Annals, Archaeology, Brian Boru, Christianity, Civil war, Dal Cais, Dublin, Dublin history, early medieval, Economy, Episode 8, Irish history, Medieval Europe, Medieval history, Podcast, Vikings, tagged , , , , , , , on June 28, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Episode 8 sees medieval Ireland stand of the edge of a precipice. A rootless struggle for control of the O Neill kingdom breaks out in the North,  while in Munster a new comer to the podcast – the Dal Cais challengthe King of Munster for power in the South. While Ireland is on the verge of chaos we look at these wars and how people struggled through a very tough period of not only war but famine, hard winters and an out break of leprosy and dysentery. By the end of the show Medieval Ireland will have changed and Brian Boru will have started his rise to power……

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The Rise of Brian Boru and the Dál Cais (944 – 980)

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Glossary of individuals featured and further reading

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Book your place on the Viking Dublin Walking Tour

Posted in 10th century, Dublin, Dublin history, Early Christian Ireland, early medieval, Gaelic Ireland, historical tours, Irish history, tour, Vikings, tagged on April 2, 2011 | 2 Comments »

On Sunday, April 10th I am organising a walking tour of Viking Dublin where you can  retrace the steps of Dublin’s earliest inhabitants in the modern city today.  This tour will journey through early medieval Dublin looking at the first few centuries of the city’s history during its days as a Viking stronghold.

The tour will bring you through the remains of  the Viking Town that lie within modern Dublin’s buildings, streets, lanes and alleys.

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Saints, Scholars and Pagans? The impact of Paganism on Medieval Irish Christianity

Posted in 5th century, 6th century, 7th century, Catholic Church, Christianity, Early Christian Ireland, early medieval, historiography, Irish history, Medieval Europe, Medieval history, Medieval Monasticism, O Neills, Paganism, Roman History, St Patrick, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 30, 2011 | 5 Comments »

In the film adaptation of “The Field”, the parish priest proclaims Christianity to be a “thin veneer” over Irish people, in a derogatory reference both the people  and pre-Christian Paganism alike. This idea of Christianity being a thin veneer runs contrary to the notion of medieval Ireland being an “island of saints and scholars” but is there any truth to this idea? Exactly how Christian was early Irish Christianity?

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Special: A history of St. Patrick and Ireland’s conversion to Christianity

Posted in 5th century, 6th century, 7th century, Catholic Church, Christianity, Early Christian Ireland, early medieval, Gaelic Ireland, historical tours, ireland, Irish history, Medieval Monasticism, St Patrick, tagged , , , , on March 15, 2011 | 4 Comments »

Episode 7: Around the world on March 17th, millions of people will attend St Patrick’s day parades in memory of the man who supposedly “converted the Irish to Christianity”. He is a figure shrouded in mystery and myth but in this podcast we examine the truth behind the one time slave and famous bishop Patrick. Tune in to hear the real history behind Ireland’s conversion, who St. Patrick really was and how he become associated with snakes and shamrocks….

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Special: A history of St Patrick and the conversion of Ireland to christainity.



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(919-944) The Pursuit of Power (pt. 1) The Decline of the O’Neills

Posted in 10th century, Annals, Archaeology, early medieval, Gaelic Ireland, historical tours, ireland, Irish history, Medieval Europe, Medieval history, O Neills, Podcast, Vikings, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 3, 2011 | 3 Comments »

Episode 6 is the start of a fascinating story, full of twists and turns. Over the next three shows we will see the O Neill kingdom who have dominated the first five shows see their power challenged by the Dal Cais (the family of Brian Boru). This will see many challengers rise and fall as these two families battle it out for supremacy in medieval Ireland.

The show begins with the rule of the O’Neill High King Donnchad Donn who came to power in 919. His life was intertwined with one of the greatest O’Neill warriors Muircherteach Mac Neill, eulogised on his death as “the hector of the west”. Find out how he earned that name and where Brian Boru’s family, the Dal Cais family originated.

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The Pursuit of Power (part 1)- The Decline of the O Neills

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Photo Essay: A brief history of Medieval Kilkenny in Pictures

Posted in Archaeology, castles, cromwell, early medieval, Gaelic Ireland, historical tours, ireland, Irish history, Medieval history, Medieval Monasticism, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 17, 2011 | 3 Comments »

Kilkenny castle

Kilkenny more than any other  Irish city has a distinctively medieval feel about it. Its small streets wind around several medieval buildings whilst its skyline is still dominated by a 13th century castle and cathedral. Through some of these buildings we can reconstruct the major events of the city’s past from witch trials to the black death.

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(902-930) Changing Times: Ireland 902-930

Posted in 10th century, 9th Century, Archaeology, Bibliography, Dublin, early medieval, Economy, Eoganacht, episode 5, Gaelic Ireland, historiography, ireland, Irish history, Medieval Europe, Medieval history, O Neills, Podcast, Vikings, tagged , , , , , , , on November 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Episode 5

Episode five  is an exciting journey through one of the most turbulent times in Medieval Ireland. The years 902- 930 see Ireland’s most powerful faction – The O Neill kingdom go to war with their traditional enemies – The Eoganacht. After three years of war only one survives creating a power vacuum, which the Vikings fill, starting yet another war! This show looks a series of major wars in Ireland and how they profoundly shaped Ireland and the people who lived through them. I hope you enjoy it – I appreciate feed back  to history@irishhistorypodcast.ie

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Changing Times Ireland 902 – 930

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The Vikings (part I)

Posted in 8th Century, 9th Century, Christianity, early medieval, Episode 2, Episodes, Irish history, Lindisfarne, Medieval history, Medieval Monasticism, O Neills, Vikings on May 5, 2010 | 4 Comments »

Episode 2 sees the Vikings enter Irish History. Were the Vikings really blood thirsty? In this show we hear what it was like to experience a Viking attack, why the attacks started, what did the Gaelic Irish make of these people when they first appeared and how they dealt with these raids.

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The Vikings (part 1)

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Below is a map that highlights the various places mentioned in the show

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Barbarians

Posted in 5th century, 6th century, 7th century, Christianity, Early Christian Ireland, early medieval, Economy, Episode 1, Episodes, Gaelic Ireland, Irish history, Medieval history, Podcast, tagged , , , , , , , on March 19, 2010 | 7 Comments »

Have you ever been puzzled by history? Did people really only live to 40? What was it like to go to a medieval dentist? Maybe you’ve been puzzled how people survived before email, phones, cars or even proper roads? Well if you have the Irish history podcast is for you! The series tracks Irish history and archaeology trying to understand what daily life was like for normal people whilst also tracking the big picture of war, politics and needless to say invasions.

The first episode looks at early medieval Ireland, a world called Barbarian by the Romans. What did Ireland look like to the first missionaries from Rome and see how the Gaelic Irish lived. It also examines how people dealt with low life expectancy and constant death.

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Ep.1 Barbarians

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Click through below for Glossary and Bibliography

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What did the Romans do for us?

Posted in Collapse of the Roman Empire, Early Christian Ireland, early medieval, Gaelic Ireland, Irish history, Roman History, tagged , on February 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

The first episode of the series picks up the story of Irish history around the end of the Roman Empire. This article looks at Ireland and its interaction with Roman Europe to set the stage.

What did the Romans do for us ?

It’s one of those questions that’s relevant to nearly every country in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Most of these countries though should really ask “what did the Romans do to us”. The answer is given by the Roman historian Tacitus, quoting a Britannic chieftain

“The Romans make a desert and call it peace”

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