Norman Invasion
The Invasion was one of the most important and fascinating events in Irish history beginning Ireland’s turbulent relationship with England.
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This is the first in a multipart series on the Norman invasion of Ireland. The Invasion was one of the most important and fascinating events in Irish history beginning Ireland’s turbulent relationship with England.
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This episode follows Diarmait as he journeys through the medieval crossroads that was the Irish sea in the Middle Ages. Diarmait is on mission to find allies in the powerful Norman Angevin Empire of Henry II who will restore him to power in Ireland.
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This podcast looks at the first Normans to arrive in Ireland, in a chapter often forgotten by the history books. These mercenaries accompany Diarmait McMurrough who returned to Ireland in 1167 to pave the way for the larger forces of Strongbow.
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On May 1st 1169, Robert FitzStephen a Norman Knight from Wales, finds himself on Bannow Strand, Ireland leading 300 Norman mercenaries. Their mission – to restore Diarmait McMurrough, the one time gaelic king of Leinster, to power. However both they and Diarmait have much greater ambitions.
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In the summer of 1170, Ireland stood on a precipice. After the arrival of several hundred Norman mercenaries in 1169 the fortunes of Diarmait McMurrough had changed.
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After their brutal conquest on Waterford, Diarmait McMurrough and his Norman allies marshaled their forces and marched on Dublin. If the most important town in medieval Ireland fell into their hands it could be a game changer.
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The Norman presence in Ireland hangs by a thread as they lose the few friends they had. This episode also sees tensions ramp between Strongbow and his king back home Henry II who is increasingly fearful Strongbow is about to establish a rival kingdom in Ireland.
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Despite their victory at the siege of Dublin (covered in Part VII), Strongbow and his Norman followers in Ireland are by no means in a secure position. Their comrade-in-arms Robert FitzStephen is being held prisoner in Wexford. Meanwhile, across Leinster they face widespread opposition.
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Henry had come in the hope of proclaiming himself lord over the entire island. Awaiting him were not just his own Norman subjects who had been fighting in Ireland since 1169 but also dozens of Gaelic kings. How these kings in particular would react to Henry’s claims would be crucial.
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At Easter 1172 Henry II left Ireland, having spent six months on the island. Before departing he conferred the Kingdom of Meath onto the Norman baron Hugh de Lacy. However Meath already a king, in fact it had several. Through most of the 12th century numerous Irish kings had been laying claim to what was one of the oldest territories in Ireland.
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The year is 1174, much of Ireland is reeling from 5 years of warfare since the Norman Invasion began in earnest in 1169. The island is gripped by sweeping change and chaos. This podcast is an enthralling journey through this land ravaged by conflict.
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In 1173 Strongbow returned to Ireland after fighting in Normandy for his king Henry II. Within months he faced one of the biggest crises since the invasion had begun as Gaelic resistance to the Invasion surged.
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This podcast takes the story to a pivotal year in the Norman Invasion of Ireland – 1176. The episode begins where part XII left off – in the aftermath of Raymond le Gros’ successful siege of Limerick.
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The episode begins with a group of Normans lead by Raymond le Gros who hear the news when they are deep in Gaelic territory. No one knows how the kings of Gaelic Ireland will react when they hear the news. Some will surely take the chance to revolt.
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In this show we see a fresh Norman army land in Waterford bent on conquering Munster. They are however stepping into a minefield of bloody feuds that stretch back centuries. In this episode I take a different approach, focusing on experience of the Gaelic Irish rather than the Normans.
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This show sees the arrival of the man who is probably the most important figure in our story after Strongbow. Hugh de Lacy, the Lord of Meath ruled over 800,000 acres of land north of Dublin.
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This episode covers a frenetic period of activity. The show starts in 1181 when Hugh de Lacy is suspected of treason by King Henry II. The Normans in Ireland wait with bated breath to see what future holds for their most powerful Lord.
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Bad, possibly mad and very dangerous, Prince John was one of the most notorious men of the Middle Ages. While his cruel reputation is preserved in the Robin Hood myths his real life notoriety began in Ireland in 1185.
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This show covers the chaotic years between 1186 and 1189. Assassinations, warfare and violence break out across Ireland as many of the key figures in the story so far struggle to survive in what is an increasingly unpredictable world.
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The Gaelic Irish response is at times baffling. Old internal feuds only intensify as the ruling families cannot let go of past transgressions and unify against the Normans. This leads to a disastrous outcome. This episode looks at events in Munster while coming shows will look at Connacht and Ulster.
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The very essences of the story – a dispute within the O’Connor family is deeply confusing. There are four distinct factions all lead by relatives who share similar names. The first is lead by Rory O’Connor, two other factions are lead by his brother Cathal ‘of the Red Hand’ and his son Conor (yes his name is Conor O’Connor!).
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In this episode the Normans push far into the North and North west. There they come up against one of the greatest powers in medieval Ireland – the kingdom of Tyrone and its ruling families – the O’Neills and their ancestral cousins the McLochlainns.
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This podcast looks at what exactly this change was like, what happened and what it was like to live in the Norman Colony. In order to gain a clear insight the show focuses on the Gaelic Kingdom of Ossory and how it became the Norman County of Kilkenny.