Contents 900s 910s 920s 940s 950s 960s 970s 980s 990s 1000s Notes

900s

902

• Dublin has been abandoned - the end of the Longphort phase - the term used by modern scholars to refer to the earliest period of Viking settlement at Dublin^[1]

908

• 13 September - Flann Sinna slew Cormac mac Cuilenn in, the king-bishop of Cashel and King of Munster, at the battle of Belach Mughna, in Leinster.^[2]

910s

911

• Drogheda is established as a Viking settlement on the River Boyne.

911 or 914

• A large Viking fleet arrives in Waterford and a second period of Viking raids begins.^[3] The Vikings also established a base in Waterford.^[4]

916

• 25 May: death of Flann Sinna (b 847 or 848), the son of M el Sechnaill mac M ele Ruanaid of Clann Cholm in, a branch of the southern U N ill. He was King of Mide from 877 onwards, following Donnchad mac Eochocain, and is counted as a High King of Ireland

917

• The Annals of Ulster records the arrival of two Viking fleets in Ireland in 917, one led by Ragnall and the other by Sigtrygg, both of the U mair kindred. They fought a battle against Niall Glundub in which the Irish were routed, and according to the annals Sigtrygg then "entered th Cliath", i.e. Dublin, which we must assume means that he took possession of it.^[5] Ragnall U mair went on to Scotland^[6], and then conquered York and became king there.

919

• Niall Gl ndub, overking of the U N ill, killed in the battle of Dublin.^[3] He fell fighting the Dublin Norse at Islandbridge.^[2]

920s

922

• The Vikings establish a Longphort in Limerick.^[7]
• Death of Muiredach Mac Domhnaill, abbot of Monasterboice, under whose auspices the great high cross was made.^[8]

926 or 941

• Brian Boru (d.1014), future High King of Ireland is thought to have been born in 926 or in 941.

927

• Death of Sigtrygg Caech (or Sihtric), a Norse-Gael King of Dublin who later reigned as king of York. His epithet means the 'Squinty'. He belonged to the U mair kindred.

928

• Viking massacre of native Irish in Dunmore Caves in County Kilkenny.

940s

944

• Death of Donnchad Donn mac Flainn, King of Mide; he is succeeded by Oengus mac Donnchada.

950s

956

• Death of Congalach Cnogba, High King of Ireland, of the S l n edo Sl ine, part of the Southern U N ill. Domnall ua N ill becomes overking of the U N ill and reigns until his death in 980.^[3]

960s

960

• Gormflaith was born in Naas, County Kildare. She was the daughter of Murchad mac Find, King of Leinster. She was also the mother of King Sigtrygg Silkbeard of Dublin.

964

• Mathgamain mac Cenn tig, leader of the D l gCais from east Clare, captures Cashel from the E ganachta.^[9]

968

• Battle of Sulcoit where Brian Boru and Mathgamain defeat Ivar of Limerick.

970s

970

• A hoard of 43 silver and bronze items was left in a rocky cleft deep in Dunmore Caves near Kilkenny. It consisted of silver, ingots and conical buttons woven from fine silver and was discovered in 1999.

976

• Mathgamain, leader of the D l gCais from east Clare, is killed.^[10]
• Death of Muirchertach mac Mael Sechnaill, King of Mide.

977

• Brian B ruma has Ivar of Limerick killed.

977/8

• Brian B ruma defeats the last independent Norse of Limerick in the Battle of Cathair Cuan.

978

• Brian B ruma defeats M el Muad mac Brain in the Battle of Belach Lechta and becomes King of Munster; death of M el Muad mac Brain.

980s

980

• Death of Domnall ua N ill, overking of the U N ill, who had reigned since 956^[3]: he is succeeded by Mael Seachnaill II, who reigned until his death in 1022^[11]
• Battle of Tara, at which Mael Seachnaill II defeats a Viking army from Dublin.^[10]

981

• Mael Seachnaill II besieges and takes the city of Dublin from the Vikings and imposes a heavy tribute on them.^[10]

982

• The King of Munster, Brian Boru starts extending his authority from his base around Limerick up the River Shannon. By doing so, he comes into conflict with High King Mael Seachnaill II whose power base is the Province of Meath. It is that start of a conflict that lasts until 997.

989

• Sigtrygg Silkbeard becomes King of Dublin

990s

997

• Brian Boru and Mael Seachnaill II divide Ireland between them^[3]

998

• King Mael Mordha of Leinster, rebelled against the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru.

999

• Brian Boru defeats the Leinstermen and the Vikings at the Battle of Glenn Mama. Sigtrygg Silkbeard, King of Dublin, submits to him.^[3] Brian plunders the city.^[10]

1000s

1000

• Brian Boru led a combined Munster-Leinster-Dublin army in an attack on High King M el Sechnaill II's home province of Meath.

Notes