Above : Picture Of Robert Fitz-Stephen

In the month of May, 1169, the first body of the adventurers arrived under the leadership of Robert Fitz-Stephen and others. About 2,000 strong, they landed at Bannow Bay in the extreme south of the present county of Wexford. The district was part of Ui Cinnsealaigh, and the people of the open country were loyal to their chief. But on the one side lay Waterford, and on the other Wexford, and the Norse inhabitants of both towns were bitterly hostile to Diarmuid. From Ferns, Diarmuid sent a body of men under his natural son, Domhnall Caomhanach (” Kavanagh “) to meet his friends, and the combined forces attacked Wexford. Retreating before the mail-clad knights, the inhabitants defended the walls and beat off their assailants. At length, however, they yielded on terms, and recognised Diarmuid as their lord. The town and surrounding country were granted to Fitz Stephen and his principal associates.

Some of the sub-chiefs of Laighin had submitted to Diarmuid, but the more important chiefs refused to acknowledge him, and these he now assailed. Passing through the gaps of the Blackstairs, he attacked O’Ryan of Ui Drona and Mac Gilla Patrick of Osraidhe—his deadly enemy. Next he ravaged the lands of O’Byrne and O’Toole, and of O’Connor of Uf Failghe. At length, however, the Ard Ri moved. He had but recently celebrated the Fair of Tailte with great pomp, and he now approached at the head of a lar<*e army. Diarmuid professed to submit, and was to get the sovereignty of Laighin under Rory as Ard Ri on condition that he sent away the ” Flemings,” as the Irish styled his allies. These easy terms were due to the fact that O’Brien, son-in-law of Diarmuid, and traditional ally of Ui Cinnsealaigh, had revived the old quarrel with the O’Connors, and Rory had to defend his own patrimony. Diarmuid’s promises were insincere, and despite them, he welcomed the arrival soon afterwards of another body of allies under Maurice Fits-Gerald.

Meanwhile Strongbow was being urged by Diarmuid to carry out his promises. A striking incident that probably did much to encourage him was the success of a small body of Normans, who crossed the island to the support of O’Brien, apparently without opposition. He feared Henry too much, however, to move without his special license, and the King was slow in granting this. A year had elapsed from the arrival of the first comers before Strongbow’s advance guard landed (May 1170). These were under the command of another Geraldine, Raymond Le Gros. They landed at Dundonald in Waterford Harbour, where they were immediately besieged by the Norse of Waterford, O’Phelan, chief of the Deisi, and the chiefs of Osraidhe and Ui Drona. Matters were very critical when by a sudden sally Raymond defeated the besiegers. Seventy of the prisoners were cruelly slain ; their limbs being first broken, they were hurled, still living, over the cliffs into the sea. For this outrage, Raymond himself does not seem to have been responsible.

Three months later, Strongbow landed in Waterford Harbour with an army of 3,000 men (August, 1170). Joined by Diarmuid’s troops, and the earlier arrivals, the combined forces attacked Waterford. The people of that city, like those of Wexford, were the descendants of the Norse founders. Aided by the chief of the Deisi, they made a brave defence, twice beating off their assailants. At length, Raymond Le Gros made an entrance, the besiegers poured in and slaughtered all the inhabitants. Then, in the midst of the reeking city, Strongbow was married to Diarmuid’s daughter Aoife, or Eva.