The Story of Ireland, Part 1
- looked to worlds beyond the green island
- shaped by waves of migration and invasion
- mistaken view of Ireland is through it's conflict with Britain -- real story is much bigger
- old view: an ancient people of one faith is central to its identity -- Gaelic and Catholic
- first wave of settlers came from Europe 10,000 years ago
- 1/6 of Ireland lies under bog
- island does not isolate it in ancient times, it makes it more accessible because travel by water is easier than by land
- correct view: Ireland is no more racially celtic than protestant Britains
- Homer (8th centery BC) on northern Europe: fog and doom
- Julius Caesar and Romans viewed them as cannibals living in the cold
- Ireland never conquered by Romans
- cattle lords have great power
- Christianity spread by Romans
- slave raiding boats departed from Irish ports to British settlements
- Saint Patrick (a Welsh, but now the most famous Irishman) escaped from Ireland but returned after a vision
- Patrick was not the druid destroying man of myth
- Patrick's apology editted by the church
- monasteries became focal point of intellectual and artistic life
- cultural revolution in Ireland when the rest of Europe had fallen into the dark ages
- scholars travelled to Ireland in 7th century from Britain or continental Europe
- literary contribution was greatest -- largest vernacular literature in Europe
- 18th century Ireland loses this sense of multi-ethnic society
- reforming Irish monk Columbanus confronted Pope, imagined a Europe united by faith and culture
- goal to create a family united by the Christain faith -- and freedom the most important thing to man
- Europe heard an Irish voice (from Columbanus) that was learned, uncompromising, and thoughtful
- (Columbanus) shades of James Joyce...
- monasteries could be launching point for earthly possessions
- church became spiritual and political power
- warring religious communities
- new power loomed out of northern seas - 795 - Vikings plundered monasteries -- the age of the vikings arrived
- vikings captured irish people and sold them as slaves
- vikings dominate stories of foreign invaders
- vikings maritime empire started in Norway
- vikings became bolder, sailed down rivers, became settlers
- in 842, viking fleet rounded Howth and sailed up river Liffey, hauled longboats ashore -- establishing the greatest city of Ireland -- Dublin
- Dublin became greatest slave market
- vikins became drawn into local conflicts
- amibitious Irish king -- Brian Boro -- Brian of the Cattle Tributes -- viewed himself of high king of all of Ireland
- Brian is an icon of native resistance, who defeated viking invasion (even if not accurate)
- armies faced off in 1014 outside of Dublin, Brian won the battle but killed in tent, becoming a martyr
- now a ripe prize for foreign invasion... see part 2