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