Between 1156 and 1166 the struggle for political power in Ireland lay between Murtough MacLochalainn of Ailech in the north and Rory O'Connor, king of Connaught. Dermot MacMurrough allied with MacLochalinn while Tiernan O'Rourke of Breifne supported O'Connor. O'Rourke was determined to destroy MacMurrough because his wife Dervorgilla had been abducted by MacMurrough with Norman accounts stating that it was she who arranged the abduction. In 1166 O'Rourke had his opportunity, MacMurrough's supporters and allies were quickly fading and Mac Lochlainn was dead. O'Rourke's armies massed on his frontier and the Norsemen of Wexford were preparing to attack his rear, when Ferns was captured MacMurrough departed to the Continent in search of King Henry II of England to persuade him to become his ally. Henry granted MacMurrough an open letter in which he invited his subjects, English, Norman, Welsh and Scot's to rally to Dermot's cause. He gained the support of one of the great Norman leaders in Wales, Richard FitzGilbert de Clare better known as Strongbow. Strongbow agreed to lead a force to Ireland and restore Dermot to power, but on the condition that Dermot give him his eldest daughter, Aoife, in marriage and the right of succession to the kingdom of Leinster. MacMurrough also secured the support of a number of Norman-Welsh knights whose names were to become part of Irish history - FitzHenry, Carew, Fitzgerald and Barry as were those of the Flemish princes who also allied with Dermot - Prendergast, Fleming, Roche, Cheevers and Synott. MacMurrough arrived back in Ireland in 1167 with his new allies, defeating O'Rourke after a brief battle. The rest of the forces Dermot had mustered arrived in 1169, O'Connor and O'Rourke sued for peace once O'Connor was recognised as high king of Ireland. However, Strongbow arrived with an army reported to be near 3,000 strong, sweeping through the kingdom of Leinster. MacMurrough died in May 1171, leaving Strongbow successor to the turbulent kingdom. Strongbow prevailed over a series of campaigns that established the Norman supremacy over both the Norse and Gaelic Irish. However, Henry II feared Strongbow establishing a powerful kingdom on England's flank. He arrived in late 1171, the Normans, Irish and Norse all paid homage to him; the bishops assembled at Cashel and made submission to Henry. By the Treaty of Windsor 1175 Rory O'Connor pledged himself to recognise Henry II as overlord of Ireland.
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source: http://www.exploringireland.net
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