The Vikings' Legacy in Ireland

COUNTRY Heritage NATIONAL MONUMENTS AN ROINN EALAÍON, OIDHREACHTA AGUS GAELTACHTA | DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, HERITAGE AND THE GAELTACHT The Vikings’ legacy in Ireland he Vikings had a major impact on Ireland, o rstly This is the latest in a series of articles from the National Monuments Service as raiders and then as of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to introduce Farmers settlers. In Scandinavia, Tthe Vikings were farmers and o sher- Journal readers to the archaeology of Ireland and to highlight the vital role men with superb boat-building and navigational skills that allowed of the farming community in preserving our heritage. them to travel to many European countries, as well as to North Africa, Picture: © Karl Brady, National Monuments Service. Russia, the Middle East and even America. The Viking long-ships were clin- ker-built boats with hulls made by overlapping planks of oak and pine. These boats were able to weather the worst storms at sea but were still shallow enough to navigate rivers. Although the Vikings were The Sea Stallion is a replica of pagan and their attacks on a large Viking warship discovered monasteries may have had an near Roskilde in Denmark. The anti-Christian dimension, they original ship, which had a crew of were initially mainly interested more than 60 men, was built using trees felled in the Dublin/Wicklow in the relatively easy booty of area circa 1042. It was impressive riches and slaves which they ships like these that instilled the could carry off and sell. fear of the Vikings in the Irish. VIKING RAIDERS The o rst raids on Ireland took place in the period from the 790s to 830s and were focused on the rich monasteries. By the middle of the ninth century, the Vikings were establish- ing bases or longphorts, some of which grew into trading settlements and eventually towns. The remains of Viking longphorts or fortio ed ship bases from which raiding expeditions were carried out can be difo cult to identify. By their very nature, many longphorts were temporary while others, such as Dublin, developed to become large settlements. A number of Irish longphorts have been identio ed, such as at Dunrally, Co Laois on the River Bar- ABOVE: The Sea Stallion of Glendalough, a replica of an Irish Viking Ship. row, at Athlunkard, Co Clare on the River Shannon and at Annagassan on the coast of Co Louth. Wood Quay, Christchurch Place and in Ireland. There is also growingg today. Fjord is a Viking Although the Vikings were pagan in the Temple Bar area of Dublin. In evidence of a sustained presencece wordw meaning an and their attacks on monasteries Wood Quay, the remains of about along the west coast where theyy inlet of the sea. When may have had an anti-Christian di- 200 houses from the 10th and 11th exploited the deep sea o shing andand the Vikings came to mension, they were initially mainly centuries were uncovered. The coastal marine resources Ireland they explored interested in the relatively easy boo- houses were rectangular in plan and of the area. ouro coastline and gave ty of riches and slaves which they had walls of post and wattle and During archaeologi- names to iinletsn such as Carlingford could carry off and sell. No doubt evidence of roofs thatched with bar- cal investigations in 2002, and StrangStrangfordfo loughs, as well at to the Vikings helped themselves to ley straw. In most cases, the roofs prior to the building of a These and other objects from places like Wexford and Waterford. cattle as they needed them, but were supported by posts located bypass around Waterford the Woodstown Viking settle- Some Irish surnames including their main objective would have inside the house. Most had hipped city, an important discov- ment are on permanent display in MacAuliffe (son of Olaf), McIvor been the granaries, other food stuffs roofs rather than gabled roofs. ery was made in the townland of Waterford Treasures at Reginald’s (son of Ivor) and Doyle (dark for- and valuables stored in the monas- The streets of the Viking town Woodstown on the banks of the Tower, Waterford. eigner) clearly rep ect a strong Norse teries. This made the monasteries were surfaced with gravel and River Suir. Excavations uncovered ABOVE LEFT: A lead weight with inp uence. prime targets for the Norsemen. stones, wattle mats or split logs. numerous objects, including silver applied glass or enamel panel The National Museum of Ireland In reality, raids from the native Plots and yards were divided from ingots, weights and a Viking burial depicting a stylised human face. has a permanent exhibition on Irish on monasteries occurred even each other by post and wattle with weapons. The metal objects ABOVE RIGHT: An iron axehead. Viking Ireland at Kildare St, Dublin before the Vikings arrived and prob- fences, implying continuity and have been dated to the mid-ninth ABOVE: An iron Viking sword. with exciting exhibitions also on ably happened on a more regular respect for property. century. The evidence suggests that Pictures: © National Roads display at the County Museum basis. Woodstown was a signio cant Viking Authority / Studio Lab Dundalk and in Reginald’s Tower, The o rst phase of lightning raids VIKING SETTLEMENTS raiding base and trading centre in Waterford city. CL gave way over time to colonisation Viking ports and settlements the ninth century. and settlement. Important Viking were also established at Wexford, Over 1,000 years since the arrival remains and examples of exquisite Waterford, Cork and Limerick, of the Vikings to these shores, their NEXT WEEK: MEDIEVAL craftsmanship have been found at which became the o rst large towns imprint on Ireland is still evident GRANGE FARMS All recorded archaeological monuments are protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004. Visitors to monuments on lands in private ownership should request permission from the landowner. If you would like to know more about the archaeological monuments on your land or in your locality, please visit www.archaeology.ie. Any questions or feedback can be forwarded to [email protected] 14 3 March 2012 COUNTRY LIVING .

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