Norman Ireland: Medieval Ireland

In the twelfth century (the 1100s), there were many warring clans in Ireland. Each clan had their own king. The most powerful king was known as the high king. For example, Turlough O’ Connor, who died in 1156, was once the high king of Ireland, just like Brian Boru. In order to become high king, a king had to fight against other powerful kings. Sometimes the king of Connacht would win, other times it might be the king of Leinster, Munster or Ulster. These constant fights meant that kings had many enemies. The reason the Normans first came to Ireland was in fact due to this fighting.

Dermot MacMurrough
Courtesy of Wicklow County Libraries

In 1169, a group of Norman soldiers and knights arrived in Wexford to help the Irish king of Leinster, Diarmuid MacMurrough. They were invited by Diarmuid to help him fight his enemies and regain his kingdom in Leinster. Diarmuid MacMurrough particularly wanted to defeat Tiernan O’Rourke, the ruler of Breffini (now Roscommon), and Rory O’Connor, the king of Connaught, because they had joined armies and had forced Diarmuid out of his kingdom.

Diarmuid MacMurrough knew that there were Norman knights and soldiers in England and he invited them to Ireland to help him. He first had to get permission from King Henry II, who at the time was the king of England and also the king of Normandy in France. In 1170, a Norman lord called Richard de Clare, nicknamed Strongbow, came to Ireland from Wales. Strongbow brought archers, knights and horsemen with him and helped Diarmuid to capture Waterford and Dublin. Strongbow later married Diarmuid’s daughter, Aoife. In 1171, when Diarmuid died, Strongbow became the King of Leinster. This meant that by 1170 AD the Normans had taken over much of the east of Ireland. By the 1300s, the Normans had castles and power in many parts of Ireland.


How did the Normans become powerful in Ireland?

How did the Normans become powerful in Ireland?

King Henry II, the Norman king of England and also part of France, came to Ireland in 1171. He allowed Strongbow to keep the rule of Leinster and he gave Meath to another Lord called Hugh de Lacy. Many of the important Irish leaders were afraid that they might be attacked by the Normans so they made friends with King Henry II and agreed that he would be their overlord and protector in return for certain deals and promises. King Henry left Ireland in 1172 but called himself the supreme lord of Ireland.

Leixlip Castle

Leixlip Castle was built around the time of the Norman Invasion in 1171. At this time only the square part of the castle was built. It was called a Keep. The round tower was later added onto the square keep in the 14th Century. The castle was a very important Norman settlement as it lay at the outer edge of the Norman territory in Ireland. This territory was called the Pale and Leixlip Castle acted as a stronghold against the native Irish.

The Norman lords soon took over some of the lands belonging to Irish clans. They were able to keep control because they had good weapons such as crossbows and were well protected by the armour they wore in battle and also by their castles. They built their castles on high ground. The castles were initially made of timber and later made of stone. These strong castles made it difficult for Irish clans to attack the Normans. The Normans mainly had control on the east of Ireland. They never conquered the whole country.

Norman Building

One of the most important Norman castles was in Trim, Co. Meath, where Hugh de Lacy lived. Trim Castle was the main castle of the Normans in Ireland. Some other Norman lords were also very powerful and built other large castles such as Carrickfergus Castle, which was owned by John de Courcy. The Normans invited poorer people from England and Wales to come to Ireland and live on their new lands. They wanted these workers to grow crops and pay them rent.

The keep of Trim Castle, Co. Meath

The keep of Trim Castle, Co. Meath. The Normans built many such castles throughout Ireland, including in Cork.

The Normans were Christians and built many cathedrals. The cathedrals were usually built in places where there was already a monastery. However, the Normans also established their own new monasteries. These were much larger than the earlier Irish monasteries. The Normans also tried to build towns such as Carlow, Carrickfergus and Drogheda. They built walls around the towns to prevent attack. These walls had gates that could be closed. They also had towers for look outs.

Norman Names

Other Norman families soon arrived in Ireland and many new names were introduced. For example FitzGerald, FitzMaurice, Power and Prendergast. These Norman surnames seemed strange to Irish people at the time as most Irish names began with O (which meant 'from the family of') and Mac (which meant 'son of').

The 14th century in Ireland: The Normans become more Irish

Many Normans began to speak Irish, to marry Irish people, and to take on Irish customs. In 1366, Normans in Ireland were forbidden by their king in England to speak in Irish, to dress like the Irish or to adopt Irish customs. These laws became known as the Statutes of Kilkenny, however they failed to stop Normans from adopting Irish traditions or from marrying into Irish families.

Statutes of Kilkenny

In 1571, the Munster over-lord, Sir John Perrot, bans the wearing of Irish clothing. Anyone found crossing the traditional way will be fined £100.

Some powerful Norman Irish families grew up in Ireland such as the Fitzgeralds of Kildare and the Geraldines of Munster. The titles of the most powerful Norman lords included the Earl of Desmond (the Munster Norman lord), the Earl of Ormond, and Earl of Kildare.

James, 9th Earl of Ormond (Seamus Bacach)
Kilkenny County Library Stock

Normans and Inheritance

The Normans used English law when it came to inheritance. This meant that the eldest son always was next in line to take over from his father, the Norman Lord. Under Irish law the clan had to agree on the next leader. This meant that there were often quarrels within families. These quarrels were sometimes worsened by the fact that the English government would have supported the oldest son while the clan might have supported a younger son to become leader.