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Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf by Sean Duffy
Brian Boru is the most famous Irish person before the modern era, whose death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 is one of the few events in the whole of Ireland's medieval history to retain a place in the popular imagination. Once, we were told that Brian, the great Christian king, gave his life in a battle on Good Friday against pagan Viking enemies whose defeat banished them from Ireland forever. More recent interpretations of the Battle of Clontarf have played down the role of the Vikings and portrayed it as merely the final act in a rebellion against Brian, the king of Munster, by his enemies in Leinster and Dublin.
This book proposes a far-reaching reassessment of Brian Boru and Clontarf. By examining Brian's family history and tracing his career from its earliest days, it uncovers the origins of Brian's greatness and explains precisely how he changed Irish political life forever.
Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf offers a new interpretation of the role of the Vikings in Irish affairs and explains how Brian emerged from obscurity to attain the high-kingship of Ireland because of his exploitation of the Viking presence. And it concludes that Clontarf was deemed a triumph, despite Brian's death, because of what he averted--a major new Viking offensive in Ireland--on that fateful day.
'I cannot recommend enough Sean Duffy's book for its readability and the enormity of backbreaking historical scholarship lightly borne and compellingly presented.'
Dr Pat Wallace, Director Emeritus of the National Museum of Ireland
'This scholarly, sympathetic book expertly unpicks legend and propaganda to uncover the real figure, offering an important reassessment of his place in Irish history.' Donnchadh O Corrain, Irish Times Weekend Review
This book proposes a far-reaching reassessment of Brian Boru and Clontarf. By examining Brian's family history and tracing his career from its earliest days, it uncovers the origins of Brian's greatness and explains precisely how he changed Irish political life forever.
Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf offers a new interpretation of the role of the Vikings in Irish affairs and explains how Brian emerged from obscurity to attain the high-kingship of Ireland because of his exploitation of the Viking presence. And it concludes that Clontarf was deemed a triumph, despite Brian's death, because of what he averted--a major new Viking offensive in Ireland--on that fateful day.
'I cannot recommend enough Sean Duffy's book for its readability and the enormity of backbreaking historical scholarship lightly borne and compellingly presented.'
Dr Pat Wallace, Director Emeritus of the National Museum of Ireland
'This scholarly, sympathetic book expertly unpicks legend and propaganda to uncover the real figure, offering an important reassessment of his place in Irish history.' Donnchadh O Corrain, Irish Times Weekend Review
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First published October 11, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 6, 2014
A very interesting read. Duffy doesn't try to present the definitive account of the battle. He is more interested in examining the context behind the rise of Brian Boru and how the events of Clontarf on Good Friday 1014 were recorded in sources of the period, even examining the Icelandic sagas that mentioned the battle. Duffy also deals with the legacy of the battle and how it impacted upon Ireland and the role played by the descendants of Brian in Irish politicis over the next century.
April 27, 2014
Complex cast of characters, There are lots of names & places that even I wouldn't begin to try & pronounce (I can only imagine what it'd be like for a non Irish reader) & more complicated dynamic than the traditional Irish freedom fighters versus Viking oppressors dynamic that this story has been simplified down to over the years. Despite the extent of names & dates Sean Duffy manages to create a compelling narrative that incorporates Brian's own life & rise to power & familial as well as how these elements reflect the political landscape of Ireland at the time. There's also interesting analysis of the Battle of Clontarf itself & the veracity of the various sources that described it & how they reflected the cultural & political leanings of the various authors. All & all a very interesting insightful read that I'd recommend heartily to anyone with an interest in Irish history or just history in general.
March 24, 2025
Duffy argues for the traditional, yet nuanced, view of the significance of the battle of Clontarf. On the one hand he rejects the overly romanticized view of Clontarf as an apocalyptic clash between Irish Christians and Viking pagans. However, he also rejects the revisionist view of the battle as nothing more than one Irish king suppressing another Irish king, with a few Vikings thrown into the mix.
Drawing on multiple primary sources, Duffy demonstrates how the battle was of great political and military significance, and likely stemmed a new wave of Viking invaders. This is demonstrated in the unprecedented scale of the armies, the length of the battle, the large presence of Vikings landing from Orkney and Man, and the extremely high casualties suffered by both sides.
Drawing on multiple primary sources, Duffy demonstrates how the battle was of great political and military significance, and likely stemmed a new wave of Viking invaders. This is demonstrated in the unprecedented scale of the armies, the length of the battle, the large presence of Vikings landing from Orkney and Man, and the extremely high casualties suffered by both sides.
July 19, 2018
Great piece of postrevisionist scholarship on Brian and Viking Age Ireland.
March 19, 2022
I knew nothing about Irish history prior to Cromwell's occupation, and am happy that my wife returned from a trip to Dublin with this, a book bought for me by a friend of her who felt he owed me a book. :-)
The first 50 pages were something of a struggle, with some very ancient history, and many, many family names, in Gaelic, and an awful lot of Gaelic place names which meant nothing to me. I'm glad I persevered as the story of Brian Boru's ascendancy to (arguably) the crown of Ireland, and his fianl battle at Clontarf. Then from various documents, Duffy considers how true the accounts of the events were, and who in fact was fighting who.
There are copious notes, attesting to a thorough investigation of the available sources to argue the case for the importance of the battle in Irish and perhaps European history.
The first 50 pages were something of a struggle, with some very ancient history, and many, many family names, in Gaelic, and an awful lot of Gaelic place names which meant nothing to me. I'm glad I persevered as the story of Brian Boru's ascendancy to (arguably) the crown of Ireland, and his fianl battle at Clontarf. Then from various documents, Duffy considers how true the accounts of the events were, and who in fact was fighting who.
There are copious notes, attesting to a thorough investigation of the available sources to argue the case for the importance of the battle in Irish and perhaps European history.
September 14, 2025
Always wanted to read about this most iconic of Irish kings and i`m glad i did. Not just about the main battle but all about Brian`s family and Ireland of those times. Recommended.
July 27, 2014
While well-written, this wasn't what I was looking for. What I wanted was to get to know more about Brian Boru as he was mentioned a lot on my recent trip to Ireland (this is because this battle took place in 1014, so they were celebrating the history.) This is a good book for someone who knows about it already and wants more facts and details, but that wasn't what I wanted.
It also reminded me why I tend to favor Historical Fiction over History, as I would pick a good story over stone cold facts.
It also reminded me why I tend to favor Historical Fiction over History, as I would pick a good story over stone cold facts.
March 11, 2022
A thorough account of Brian’s rise, fall, and demise, and its interpretation of his legacy—in both its real effect on medieval Ireland and its current mythological status—is well articulated and convincing.
April 27, 2014
Given the year that's in it this is a MUST read for all those with an interest in Irish history. 1000 years since Clontarf and this does a great job negotiating the weave of history & myth.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews