This book delves into the historical and literary connections between Norse and Gaelic cultures through case studies of key texts like *Konungs skuggsjá*, *Njáls saga*, *Landnámabók*, and *Baile Suthach Sith Emhna*. It examines the transmission of historical and literary material, highlighting oral traditions, written sources, and authorial adaptations. The volume provides English translations and detailed discussions to make it accessible to both students and specialists.
This book provides a detailed historical narrative of the Viking invasions of Ireland, covering the period from 967 to 1016. It includes the heroic exploits of King Brian Boruma and the pivotal Battle of Clontarf. Edited and translated by James Henthorn Todd, it offers insights into the interactions between the Irish and the Norse invaders.
This book provides a detailed exploration of the Viking presence in Ireland and its broader implications, covering archaeological, historical, and cultural aspects from approximately 795 to 1170. It includes contributions from leading scholars in Viking studies, offering insights into various disciplines such as archaeology, art history, and literature.
This book provides a detailed analysis of the Vikings' activities in the Irish Sea, focusing on their raids, settlements, and eventual assimilation into local cultures. It explores the significant social and economic impacts of their presence in the region, drawing on archaeological evidence to offer fresh insights into this period.
This chapter, part of 'The Cambridge History of Ireland: Volume 1. 600–1550', examines the Scandinavian intervention in Ireland, focusing on the Viking Age and its consequences for Irish society, politics, and culture. It situates these events within the broader context of the Scandinavian diaspora and the transformation of early medieval Europe.
This book explores the life and reign of Brian Boru, who rose to prominence as the King of Munster and eventually became the High King of Ireland. He is known for his military victories against the Vikings and his efforts to unify Ireland. However, his reign ended with his death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
This book provides a comprehensive analysis of Brian Boru's career and the Battle of Clontarf, challenging traditional narratives by examining the political strategies and alliances involved. It offers a new perspective on how Brian emerged from obscurity to become the high king of Ireland, leveraging the Viking presence to his advantage. The book concludes that Clontarf was a triumph for Brian, as it prevented a major Viking offensive in Ireland.
This book contains the proceedings of a national conference held in Trinity College Dublin in April 2014, commemorating the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf. It explores various aspects of medieval Dublin and the historical significance of the battle. Edited by Seán Duffy, it provides insights into historical events and their impact on Dublin's development.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the best known events and figures in Irish history. In 1014 Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Hiberno-Norse forces of Sigtrygg Silkbeard and allies near their Dublin stronghold, with Brian losing his life on the day of battle. Soon chroniclers in Ireland and abroad were recording and retelling the events, raising the status of Brian Boru as one who sacrificed himself for Ireland, Christ-like, a connection reinforced by the battle taking place on Good Friday. While some of the facts are contested, the Battle of Clontarf became a powerful symbol of what a united Ireland could achieve by force against invaders.
With
Seán Duffy
Professor of Medieval Irish and Insular History at Trinity College Dublin
Máire Ní Mhaonaigh
Professor of Celtic and Medieval Studies at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge
And
Alex Woolf
Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of St Andrews
Producer: Simon Tillotson
Reading list:
Howard B. Clarke, Sheila Dooley and Ruth Johnson, Dublin and the Viking World (O'Brien Press Ltd, 2018)
Howard B. Clarke and Ruth Johnson (ed.), The Vikings in Ireland and Beyond: Before and After Clontarf (Four Courts Press, 2015)
Clare Downham, ‘The Battle of Clontarf in Irish History and Legend’ (History Ireland 13, No. 5, 2005)
Seán Duffy, Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf (Gill & Macmillan, 2014)
Seán Duffy (ed.), Medieval Dublin XVI: Proceedings of Clontarf 1014–2014: National Conference Marking the Millennium of the Battle of Clontarf (Four Courts Press, 2017)
Colmán Etchingham, ‘North Wales, Ireland and the Isles: The Insular Viking Zone’ (Peritia 15, 2001)
Colmán Etchingham, Jón Viðar Sigurðsson, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh and Elizabeth Ashman Rowe, Norse-Gaelic Contacts in a Viking World (Brepols N.V., 2019)
David Griffiths, Vikings of the Irish Sea (The History Press, 2nd ed., 2025)
James Henthorn Todd (ed. and trans.), Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh: The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill, or, the Invasions of Ireland by the Danes and other Norsemen (first published 1867; Cambridge University Press, 2012)
Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Brian Boru: Ireland's greatest king? (The History Press, 2006)
Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, ‘Tales of Three Gormlaiths in Medieval Irish Literature’ (Ériu 52, 2002)
Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, ‘Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib: Some Dating Consierations’ (Peritia 9, 1995)
Brendan Smith, The Cambridge History of Ireland, vol. 1, 600–1550 (Cambridge University Press, 2018), especially ‘The Scandinavian Intervention’ by Alex Woolf
In Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio Production
In Our Time 
