HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

Ireland in the centuries before the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169–71 is known in rich detail, above all from its uniquely well-developed (for the period) vernacular written culture. This has preserved literary treasures such as the Táin Bó Cúailnge (‘Cattle Raid of Cooley’) as well as extensive annalistic, genealogical and legal texts. Ireland's texts reveal distinctive social and cultural characteristics, which combined Christianity with native tradition. The island had never formed part of the Roman Empire, and Christianity was one of many influences from the Roman world introduced in the early Middle Ages – specifically by St Patrick and other, less well-remembered missionaries in the fifth century (Dumville 1993b; Charles-Edwards 2000, esp. 214–33; Hughes 2005). By the later sixth century Ireland boasted a vibrant Christian culture founded on numerous church sites and their charismatic leaders. Many of these settlements grew to become major central places in their own right, and were probably the largest permanent settlements in pre- Viking Ireland (Doherty 1985; Valante 1998; Bradley 2008; Etchingham 2010a; Clarke 2013). Early monasteries in Ireland taught a rigorous interpretation of Christianity, and Latin literature and other aspects of Christian culture flourished alongside the vernacular in the seventh century and afterwards (Ó Cróinín 1995, 147–232). St Columbanus (d. 615) and others left Ireland to bring their faith and learning to Britain and parts of continental Europe (Angenendt 1982); in Columbanus’ case, his reputation for sanctity made him the confidant of Frankish kings and eventually led him to found the major monastery of Bobbio in northern Italy. Other Irish foundations included Iona in Scotland, St Gallen in Switzerland and Lindisfarne in England (Walker 1957; Clarke and Brennan 1981; Lapidge 1997; Charles-Edwards 2000, 344–90).

About 150 small tuatha (‘(petty) kingdoms’) can be traced in early medieval Ireland, formed into larger networks based on bonds of allegiance and tribute (Charles–Edwards 2000, 13–15; Byrne 2001) (Map 8).