Gaelic inculturation of the Normans

Above: Norman Quest

There was, however, an influence at work amongst the descendants of the early Normans in Ireland greater than that produced either by the increased activity of the Irish or by the Weakness of the Crown of England.

 It was the influence of a vigorous national life upon what was still an artificial element in the nation. Its effects were radical because they produced a change of character. Like the Norsemen in an earlier period, the Normans were being assimilated by the Nation—they were rapidly being Gaelicised.

They had now been in the country for nearly two centuries, holding most of the lands they had seized against the Irish, who encompassed them on all sides. In many a feud—both Irish and Norman—the two races had frequently fought side by side, and intimate intercourse in peace could not be prevented. Marriages between the two races had been frequent from the time of those of Strongbow with Eva, and of De Lacy with Rose O’Connor.

The Normans, originally partly Welsh, as has been seen, were now strongly Irish in blood. They found a charm in many features of the national life around them, and they adopted many of them. Their children were fostered in Irish families, the tie of gossipred bound many of the two races, Irish bards were welcomed in the castles of the lords.

They adopted the Irish language (the son of the first Earl of Desmond was a Gaelic poet) and Irish names, and many personal customs which were peculiarly Irish. Many of their followers were Irish in race, who took the place of the settlers who had fled from the country, and some of the great lords had under their ” protection ” isolated Irish clans who occupied parts of their original territories under their own chiefs.