The Norman Conquest

1171 to 1347

St Patricks Cathedral

It is believed that St Patrick’s Cathedral dates back to the days when the Danes controlled the city of Dublin. This building was only a parochial church until the 13th century when it was upgraded to a Cathedral. The church has gone through a lot of damage through the years including it being almost destroyed by Oliver Cromwell. Legend has it that St Patrick baptised converts to the Christian religion at an old well near where the Cathedral was built. Today there is a river still flowing under the Cathedral.

St Patricks Cathedral

St Patricks Cathedral

It is believed that St Patrick’s Cathedral dates back to the days when the Danes controlled the city of Dublin. This building was only a parochial church until the 13th century when it was upgraded to a Cathedral. The church has gone through a lot of damage through the years including it being almost destroyed by Oliver Cromwell. Legend has it that St Patrick baptised converts to the Christian religion at an old well near where the Cathedral was built. Today there is a river still flowing under the Cathedral.

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Roche Castle

Roche Castle, like its sister castle at Carlingford, were both built by the Anglo-Normans as part of the process of taming and colonizing north Louth in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Striking and powerful, it commands a pass northwards and affords wonderful views over the surrounding country.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Roche Castle
Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Roche Castle

Roche Castle, like its sister castle at Carlingford, were both built by the Anglo-Normans as part of the process of taming and colonizing north Louth in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Striking and powerful, it commands a pass northwards and affords wonderful views over the surrounding country.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

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The introduction of Continental forms to the Irish church in 1111 CE  was followed some 60 years later by equivalent changes to the secular power. In 1171 Henry II, the Norman King of England, came to
Ireland to assert his position as the feudal superior of what was to be called 'The Lordship of Ireland'. At that time the Kings of the Irish provinces, with the High King of Ireland, swore their allegiance to the English crown and a period of rule by Britain, which lasted 750 years, began.

The Normans brought a centralised administration to Ireland, supported by superior military power and characterised by the earthen mottes and later stone-built castles that they erected throughout the country. As the Norsemen had done before, they established their capital in Dublin, building Dublin Castle and St.Patrick's Cathedral. Trim Castle in County Meath, built by Hugh de Lacy, deputy for the King in Ireland and the cathedral at Newtown Trim make up another noted centre of their power. Ulster was subjugated by John de Courcy by 1180, whose power was based at Carrickfergus in County Antrim. All over Ireland Norman churchmen were presented to ecclesiastical positions and new Norman monasteries and churches were built. From 1315 when Edward Bruce, the brother of the Scottish King, invaded Ireland, and in 1347, when 'the Black Death', the bubonic plague, arrived in England the exercise of Norman power in Ireland was considerably reduced.