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Scandinavian origin. Thus much for the testimony of family 

 names to Scandinavian influences upon the Irish, and to the 

 existence of a Norse element in the country. 



The next influence brought to bear upon Ireland was through 

 the Norman invaders. You know the story, how that Dermot 

 Mac Morrough, king of Leinster, being expelled from his chief- 

 taincy, went to England to seek the aid of King Henry II. 

 How after some mishaps he finally induced a number of Norman 

 adventurers to return with him, and to attempt the recovery of his 

 kingdom. This was the Norman invasion — it took place in the 

 year 1170, when, on the 1st of May, a number of mixed Welsh 

 and Norman knights and 600 soldiers landed near Wexford. The 

 names of the principal of these knights are important, as they 

 played a distinguished part in the history of Ireland in after years. 

 There were three Fitz Henries, two de Cogans, two de Barrys, 

 three Fitz Geralds, Raymond le Gros, Landsdowne, Petty and 

 Henry de Montmaurice, Maurice de Prendergast, Robert de 

 Bermingham, de Lacy, Tirrel, Welsh, Verdon, de Courcy, and 

 last, but not least, Richard de Strigul, or Strongbow. Many of 

 the names of those who took part in this invasion are still to be 

 found in the Peerage of Ireland ; the present Baron Kingsale is a 

 descendant of the great John de Courcy, Earl of Ulster. 



After some time these invaders succeeded in obtaining a hold 

 upon the country. The eastern coast, from the Boyne to Wex- 

 ford, was first reduced, and the Danish inhabitants of many of 

 the seaports, though at first inimical, became the allies of their 

 recently arrived kinsmen; for you must remember that the Nor- 

 mans were, as their name implies, of Norse origin. Ireland was 

 divided into portions, and granted by the king to the invaders ; 

 Meath was given to de Lacy, who had to dispossess the 

 original possessors, the O'Rorkes, before he could enter upon 

 his new property. Richard Strongbow obtained the lordship of 

 Leinster, as well through marriage with King Dermot's daugh- 

 ter as by the grant of the king of England. The lordship of 

 Ulster, comprising then about the one-sixth of the entire island, 



