Overview
From the late eight century AD onwards Norse raids along the Irish coastline were recorded. By 841 AD fortified naval bases, so called longphorts, were established by the Vikings along the east coast, from which to make inroads into the country. Examples of these were documented by monks at Dublinn and Linn Duachaill (Ó Cróinín, 1995). However, the physical appearance of these is hotly debated among archaeologists (Sheehan, 2008). Proof for female as well as male Viking burials starts to appear from the ninth century in Dublin, hinting at settlement sites. The Norse established the first urban centres of Ireland, such as Dublin and Waterford (Ó Cróinín, 1995).
Raftery (1960) reports that in 1947 a Norse burial had been exposed from the sand dunes of Eyrephort, Co. Galway. The skeleton of a young man along with a an iron sword and dagger, in addition to an iron a shield boss and a socket of an iron spearhead. The burial was dated to c. 850 AD through the sword type however, a Viking settlement in western Ireland was ruled out at the time of recovery. Sheehan (1987/1988) in contrast, suggests that the find at Eyrephort indicates a permanent Viking settlement within the vicinity. He proposes that the Norse also founded rural settlements away from their urban centres, such as Dublin. Keely- Gibbons and Kelly (2003) refer to the excavation of a Viking farmstead at Truska, False Bay, not far from the former burial in addition to explaining place name evidence from the region, strengthening the point of Viking presence in the area. In addition, Spellissy (1999) records that the Norse “are remembered with a monument” on the western edge of Ballinakill Lough, which is an assembly of stones, which might be a house site.
Walsh (2007) proposes a Viking ship-type burial at Treanbeg, Co. Mayo, a lacustrine promontory fort, further strengthening the evidence. He ties together all the existing evidence for Norse presence in the Clew Bay/Connemara region, such as a silver hoard at Cushalogurt, Co. Mayo and a man-made port at Omey island, Connemara, suggesting that the Norse inhabited the shoreline of the region. He puts forward that the Norse settled in this area, using soapstone and surviving through farming, fishing and agriculture in addition to pillaging, as they did on the Scottish islands.
From this evidence, it can be assumed that the Vikings settled in the area of north-western Connemara and possibly also in other coastal areas of Connacht.
Raftery (1960) reports that in 1947 a Norse burial had been exposed from the sand dunes of Eyrephort, Co. Galway. The skeleton of a young man along with a an iron sword and dagger, in addition to an iron a shield boss and a socket of an iron spearhead. The burial was dated to c. 850 AD through the sword type however, a Viking settlement in western Ireland was ruled out at the time of recovery. Sheehan (1987/1988) in contrast, suggests that the find at Eyrephort indicates a permanent Viking settlement within the vicinity. He proposes that the Norse also founded rural settlements away from their urban centres, such as Dublin. Keely- Gibbons and Kelly (2003) refer to the excavation of a Viking farmstead at Truska, False Bay, not far from the former burial in addition to explaining place name evidence from the region, strengthening the point of Viking presence in the area. In addition, Spellissy (1999) records that the Norse “are remembered with a monument” on the western edge of Ballinakill Lough, which is an assembly of stones, which might be a house site.
Walsh (2007) proposes a Viking ship-type burial at Treanbeg, Co. Mayo, a lacustrine promontory fort, further strengthening the evidence. He ties together all the existing evidence for Norse presence in the Clew Bay/Connemara region, such as a silver hoard at Cushalogurt, Co. Mayo and a man-made port at Omey island, Connemara, suggesting that the Norse inhabited the shoreline of the region. He puts forward that the Norse settled in this area, using soapstone and surviving through farming, fishing and agriculture in addition to pillaging, as they did on the Scottish islands.
From this evidence, it can be assumed that the Vikings settled in the area of north-western Connemara and possibly also in other coastal areas of Connacht.