Ireland held an important geographical advantage for the Viking people. Isolated from England but still close to both Iceland and mainland Europe, the Vikings established a merchant economy in Ireland. However, unlike northern Europe and Great Britain, the Vikings did not attempt to seize the entire island, concentrating their efforts along the southern coast.
The Vikings established the first towns in Ireland, including what is now Cork, Dublin, Limerick, and Waterford. While settling the rest of Europe and Northern Britain as farmers, the Vikings of Ireland tended to be merchants, trading what they could. Dublin grew rapidly, and became one of the great European trade cities of the late tenth and early eleventh centuries. (Foster, 30-37)
The Irish, being of Celtic decadence, were largely defined by their language. The Celtic origin was one of oral tradition, and constantly absorbed parts of other cultures. Amazingly, very little of the Norse language was absorbed and used by the Irish. Little more than fifty words were borrowed from Norse, most of which were connected with sailing, fishing, and trading. Of place names, most were left on the southern coastal area, such as Smerwick, Blaskets, Dursey, Fota, Helvick, Saltees, and Selskar. (Foster, 34)
Although many historians may debate whether the Viking tactics of warfare were absorbed by the Irish, they were not. The Irish were a violent race, constantly fighting minor wars between the smaller kings. The Vikings were drawn into these wars after settling, as they were slowly absorbed into the Irish culture.
The Vikings also did not create a problem within the Irish Church. Lay abbots, married clergy, hereditary succession of church offices, and increasing violence within the church had been happening and slowly building well before the Vikings began their raids in 795. The churches tended to act as a source of wealth among the local kingdoms and residencies. Often they were plundered in the usual Viking fashion for there economic value. The pagan religion of the Vikings had no effect on the christian beliefs within Ireland.
The Vikings did bring great advancement in the way of shipbuilding and navigation for both trade and war. The Vikings were the first to develop the keel, which allowed a ship to travel faster, extending their scope of reach. They also had developed a way of measuring latitude by use of a yardstick and charts which plotted the suns height above the horizon each week. The typical Viking trading ship was about 50 feet long, war ships were between 65 and 90 feet, and used a large woolen sail at sea and up to 30 pairs of oars for moving up river. These ship and navigational advancements allowed the Vikings to establish Dublin on an international scale in trade, bringing attention to Ireland.
The Viking settlements in Ireland caused the coming of the first Irish High King Brian Boru. Boru united and organized most of the Irish kingdoms in order to defeat the Norse at Clontarf. Brian was killed during the battle, however, he is still considered the first King of Ireland. After the Battle of Clontarf, located in Dublin, the Vikings began to decline in power as they were totally absorbed into Irish culture.
The Norman invasion of Ireland saw the first conquest of Ireland and began it's long ownership by England. The Normans were of Viking decent in the area of France known as Normandy. They had spread out and conquered much of Europe as well as England. The king of England was a Norman, Henry II. The island was eventually conquered and absorbed, this time, into English culture. This marks the end of the direct Viking influence in Ireland.
The Viking culture had a direct effect on all the cultures of Europe during the Viking Age. The direct effect was least on the island of Ireland. It was on this isle that the Vikings did not set on conquering the entire island, but instead inhabited its coastal regions in order to increase trade. They brought advancement to the Irish culture in the way of towns, trade, and shipping. The Norse language itself was not overly absorbed into the Gaelic language of the Irish. However, in the end it was the Normans of Viking decent that conquered Ireland and began its long English ruling.
Foster, R. F. The Oxford History of Ireland. Oxford University Press. 1989
Gillmor, D. A. Magee, J. & Watson, J. W. "Ireland." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1983