The Medieval Irish Kings and the English Invasion

Winner, NUI Publication Prize in Irish History 2025 Winner, Irish Historical Studies First Book Prize 2024 When Henry II accepted the Leinster king Diarmait Mac Murchada as his liegeman in 1166, he forged a bond between the English crown and Ireland that has never been undone. Ireland was to be changed forever as a result of the momentous events that followed – so much so that it is normal for professional historians to specialise in either the pre- or post-invasion period. Here, for the first time, is an account of the impact of the English invasion on the Irish kingdoms in the context of their strategies across the whole twelfth century. Ireland’s leading men battled for spheres of influence, for recognition of their hegemonies and, ultimately, for the coveted title of ‘king of Ireland’. But what did it mean to be the king of Ireland when no one dynasty had secured their hold on it? This book takes a close look at each pretender, asking what it meant to them – and whether the political dynamics surrounding the role had an impact on the course of the invasion itself.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1: The Scene 2: Methodology and Presentation 3: The Historiographical Status Quo Connacht and the Shannon Introduction 4: Making the Shannon work for Connacht I: A new king II: Toirdelbach & Leth Moga III: Toirdelbach & Leth Cuinn IV: Bridges & Fleets 5: Rúaidrí Úa Conchobair’s kingship I: From inauspicious beginnings to national supremacy II: King of Ireland III: Leinster, the fly in the ointment 6: Treat and retreat I: The Treaty of Windsor II: Retreat 7: Cathal’s rise and Connacht’s decline I: Cathal Crobderg II: English infringement of the Shannon frontier & the threat of conquest III: Plantagenet vassals 8: Conquest Conclusion The Uí Néill and the North Introduction 9: The North & the Phony War I: The North II: Phony War 10: Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn’s kingship I: A new partnership in the North II: Downfall 11: The disintegration of the North I: Airgíallan ascendency II: The rise of Cenél Conaill III: The struggles of the Cenél nEógain 12: The impact of the English invasion I: Incursions and conquests II: The lordship of Ulaid 13: Foiled conquests I: Defending the North from De Courcy II: Defending the North from King John Conclusion Munster and Leth Moga Introduction 14: The kings of Leth Moga I: Brian Bóraime’s strategy II: Following Brian’s lead 15: Internal and external divisions I: Crisis in Leth Moga II: Two royal houses, two kingdoms III: The Thomond–Desmond border IV. Leinster’s position in Leth Moga 16: The impact of the English invasion I: The capitals before the invasion II: The capitals during the invasion III: Leadership in Leth Moga 17: Circumscription and conquest I: Prince John’s grants in Munster II: The restriction of Irish Thomond and Desmond Conclusion Kingship Introduction 18: The kingship of Ireland in the twelfth century I: The historiography of the kingship of Ireland II: The character of the kingship of Ireland III: The nature of twelfth-century Irish politics 19: Defining ‘opposition’ and ‘exile’ I: ‘Opposition’ II: ‘Exile’ Invasion Introduction 20: Changing political dynamics 21: Military approaches 22: Individual actions Conclusion Bibliography Appendices

About the Author :
Seán Ó Hoireabhárd is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, specialising in Gaelic Irish history between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries.

Review :
‘Overall, this is a hugely impressive piece of scholarship and, on a very obvious level, this volume will be essential reading for anyone working on the history or political culture of high medieval Ireland... On a wider level, Ó Hoireabhárd's book should also be a helpful reference point for scholars of medieval European history more generally, while historians of early modern Ireland can learn a great deal about their own periods from reading this study.’ Simon Egan, History Ireland