The Normans

arrived in

Ireland

1169 AD

The Normans were descendents of the The Normans were descendents of the Vikings and like the Vikings they loved to Vikings and like the Vikings they loved to travel in their long shipstravel in their long ships

Some Vikings moved to Northern France Some Vikings moved to Northern France to a place called Normandy and they then to a place called Normandy and they then became known as the Normans became known as the Normans

The Normans were powerful soldiers and The Normans were powerful soldiers and skilled builders of castles skilled builders of castles

Ireland in 1166Ireland in 1166 Ireland was divided into many small kingdoms.Ireland was divided into many small kingdoms.

Dermot McMurrough was King of Leinster and Dermot McMurrough was King of Leinster and he was unpopular among the other kings. The he was unpopular among the other kings. The other Kings decided to form an army against other Kings decided to form an army against him.him.

Dermot was so worried that he went to England Dermot was so worried that he went to England to ask for help from King Henry.to ask for help from King Henry.

King Henry agreed to help and sent the King Henry agreed to help and sent the Normans to help him .Normans to help him .

The AgreementThe Agreement

Richard de Clare, also known as Richard de Clare, also known as Strongbow, was a powerful Norman lord.Strongbow, was a powerful Norman lord.

He agreed to gather an army of Norman He agreed to gather an army of Norman soldiers to help Dermot in return for:soldiers to help Dermot in return for:

1) Dermot daughter Aoife’s hand in1) Dermot daughter Aoife’s hand in marriagemarriage 2) That he would become the next2) That he would become the next King of Leinster King of Leinster

Dermot Strongbow

Normans Arrive- 1169 Normans Arrive- 1169

When the Normans arrived Dermot When the Normans arrived Dermot met them at Bannow Bay, Co. met them at Bannow Bay, Co. Wexford. Wexford.

Together they marched on and took Together they marched on and took over Wexford town, Waterford City over Wexford town, Waterford City and Dublin. and Dublin.

Norman Castles Norman Castles

When the Normans captured an area they When the Normans captured an area they built castles for protection against the Irishbuilt castles for protection against the Irish

First they built castles made of woodFirst they built castles made of wood These were called motte and bailey These were called motte and bailey

castles castles

Motte and Bailey Castles Motte and Bailey Castles

A keep (wooden house) was built on top of A keep (wooden house) was built on top of a small hill of earth- Mottea small hill of earth- Motte

The Bailey was an open space in front of The Bailey was an open space in front of the mottethe motte

A wide ditch surrounded the motte and A wide ditch surrounded the motte and bailey. (moat)bailey. (moat)

Servants , craftspeople, soldiers and Servants , craftspeople, soldiers and farmers lived in the baileyfarmers lived in the bailey

There was also a garden and stables and There was also a garden and stables and sheds for animals. sheds for animals.

Stone CastlesStone Castles

Eventually the Normans began to build Eventually the Normans began to build stone castles instead of motte and bailey stone castles instead of motte and bailey castles.castles.

Can you think of any reasons why?Can you think of any reasons why?

Think about - Protection, weather in Think about - Protection, weather in Ireland, risk of fire. Ireland, risk of fire.

Stone Castles Stone Castles

Trim Castle, Co Meath

Stone Castles Stone Castles

Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare

Changes the Normans brought Changes the Normans brought

They brought many farming ideas to They brought many farming ideas to Ireland which we still use todayIreland which we still use today

They divided the land into fields and They divided the land into fields and rotated the crops they grew each yearrotated the crops they grew each year

Wheat grown one year, oats the nextWheat grown one year, oats the next They pioneered the making of hay by They pioneered the making of hay by

saving grass in the Summer and drying it. saving grass in the Summer and drying it. The Irish people knew nothing about this The Irish people knew nothing about this until the Normans came until the Normans came

Farming

Changes the Normans broughtChanges the Normans brought

New towns built up around Norman New towns built up around Norman castles, Trim, Drogheda, Dundalk. castles, Trim, Drogheda, Dundalk.

Trim, Co. Meath

Changes the Normans brought Changes the Normans brought Many Irish names come from the Normans Many Irish names come from the Normans Surnames- Cusack, Fitzgerald, Roche, FitzpatrickSurnames- Cusack, Fitzgerald, Roche, FitzpatrickChristian names- Eileen, Eamon, James, Christian names- Eileen, Eamon, James,

Geraldine. Geraldine.

Are any of these names in our class or school?Are any of these names in our class or school?

By the end of the 1300, Normans controlled By the end of the 1300, Normans controlled most of Irelandmost of Ireland

Most had intermarried and became just like the Most had intermarried and became just like the Irish people Irish people