Dermot Mac Murrough & Strongbow

Dermot MacMurrough & Strongbow My project on

Medieval life.

By Sophia Robinson

Dermot MacMurrough & Strongbow In 1169 Dermot MacMurrough the king of leinster went to seek help from Henry II who was the king of England. He wanted Henry to help him defeat the other Gaelic kings, so he could make himself High King of Ireland. Henry was delighted with the invitation as he had been thinking of invading Ireland. He had been given permission a few years before that from the English pope, Adrian IV to conquer Ireland in order to enlarge the boundaries of the church.

In the same year Norman lords arrived in Ireland .So as a thanks, Dermot’s daughter, Aoife married to Strongbow ( Richard De Clare ). Two years later Dermot died. As he had no sons Strongbow became King of Leinster!

In 1172 King Henry came over to Ireland with an army of 4,000 soldiers and 500 knights, this was because Henry thought that Stongbow was becoming too powerful.

So in 1172 Henry Declared himself Lord of Ireland! This began the connection between Ireland and England, which lasted for 800 years.