Above: Norman Adventures

I95. In the month of May, 1169, a force of 100 knights and men-at-arms in coats of mail and about 600 archers, under Robert Fitzstephen and Maurice Pren- dergast landed at Bannow in Wexford with Hervey Mountmaurice, Strongbow’s uncle. As knights and archers had attendants, the total force was about 2,000. Having been joined by Dermot and his son, Donall Kavanagh, with 500 horsemen, he advanced on the town of Wexford, which after a valiant defence was surren- dered to them. Then Dermot granted Wexford and the adjoining district to Robert Fitzstephen and Maurice Fitzgerald -the latter of whom had not yet arrived. He granted also to Mountmaurice the district lying between the towns of Wexford and Waterford. Dermot and his allies next attacked Ossory and forced its chief Mac Gilla Patrick to submit.

Above: The Way for Invader

During the century and a half from the death of Malachi II to the Anglo-Norman invasion, Ireland had no universally acknowledged over-king. To every one there was opposition from some influential quarter or another; which the annalists indicate by the epithet, ” king with opposition ” commonly applied to the kings who during this time aspired to the sovereignty.