Death of a High King: The Battle of Islandbridge 919

The Battle of Islandbridge was fought in 919 between Gaelic Irish under the High King Niall Glúndubh and a Viking force from Dublin under Sitric from the Uí Ímair (descendants of Ivar). Niall Glúndubh was a capable king and he became King of Tara/High King at a high point in the fortunes of the Uí Néill. However, his reign coincided with the return of the Uí Ímair to Ireland with large numbers of troops. The Gaelic Irish lost the battle of Islandbridge, with Niall and large numbers of other Gaelic kings and lords being killed. Niall Glúndubh was the first King of Tara to be killed by the Norse. Moreover, in the coming century, they would kill or defeat other Uí Néill kings/lords as they seemed about to achieve a hegemonic position, such as Muirchertach (Niall's son), Ruairi Ua Canannain, and Domhall Ua Neill. Ultimately this would allow the rise of new power groups in Ireland, such as the Brian Boru and the Dál Cais. The O'Neill/ O Néill surname comes from Niall Glúndubh, being adopted by his grandson Domhnall Ua Neill, also King of Tara
#irishhistory #militaryhistory #Dublin #Viking #Norse #irishbattles #oneill #medieval #medievalwarfare #highking #irish #Ireland
References
Annals of Ulster, CELT, UCC celt.ucc.ie/pu...
Annals of the Four Masters, CELT, UCC, celt.ucc.ie/pu...
Byrne, F J, Irish Kings and High Kings. Four Courts Press, Dublin 2001.
Jaski, Bart. "The Vikings and the Kingship of Tara." Peritia 9, 1995
McGettingan, Darren. The Kings of Aileach and the Vikings, AD 800-1600. Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2020.

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

This is my favourite of yours so far mate. Even though my surname means Son of Olaf we are a Gaelic Tuath. Some stray nord must of got in😛. Very well done. Iwent to some of the places in Dublin that you showed. The Vikings are ever interesting

[@forasfeasa]

Glad you liked it Wayne. I will have another Viking battle in a few weeks (Viking v Norman...) For some strange this one isn't doing well.... Bloody algorithms!

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Cool@@forasfeasa

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Cool@@forasfeasa

[@forasfeasa]

For some reason your comments were hidden.... hope they appear now

[@forasfeasa]

THis one too!

[@AcolyteOfAoibheall]

Interesting and thoughtful perspective. If I follow your logic the Uí Thairdelbaig branch of the Dál Cais owe the vikings a favour for giving the Uí Néill a pasting. Given the current fashion for reparations I'm hoping that buying a new mattress from IKEA will cover my share..

[@forasfeasa]

I need a new chair... (and I will see what damage storm bert will do tonight. It is howling around my house at the moment....)

[@AcolyteOfAoibheall]

@forasfeasa That's not a storm, it's just one of the Morrigan chiding you for not having an Instagram channel yet :)

[@forasfeasa]

@@AcolyteOfAoibheall Message understood... setting up an instagram tomorrow morning :-)

[@AcolyteOfAoibheall]

Apologies for dropping out of character but I have noticed that some of the more popular channels covering the history of Ireland have a presence on both Instagram and KZbin. I just thought it might be worth considering if you were interested in reaching a wider audience.