Battle of Sulcoit
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Sulcoit was an important victory for the rising Dál gCais
against their enemies, the Norse
of Limerick
under Ivar of Limerick
. The Dál gCais army was led by Mathgamain mac Cennétig
with the possible assistance of his younger brother Brian Bóruma.
The annals only offer the above brief report of the battle and the plundering of Limerick the following day. The only extended account of the battle, including background, mustering, and aftermath, is found in the controversial Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib.
While a notable victory against an allegedly very powerful foe, and a new source of great confidence for the rising Dál gCais, Sulcoit appears to have been of less consequence to Ivar and the Norse themselves, who reappeared in only a year or two. They would not be substantially driven out of Munster until 972, and this only achieved by the combined forces of the Dál gCais and the rival Eóganachta
with the aid of other nobles of the province.
Dál gCais
The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...
against their enemies, the Norse
Norsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
of Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
under Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick
Ivar of Limerick , died 977, was the last Norse king of the city-state of Limerick, and penultimate King of the Foreigners of Munster, reigning during the rise to power of the Dál gCais and the fall of the Eóganachta...
. The Dál gCais army was led by Mathgamain mac Cennétig
Mathgamain mac Cennétig
Mathgamain mac Cennétig was King of Munster from around 970 to his death in 976. He is the elder brother of Brian Bóruma and the ancestor of the McMahon family of County Clare in Western Ireland ....
with the possible assistance of his younger brother Brian Bóruma.
The annals only offer the above brief report of the battle and the plundering of Limerick the following day. The only extended account of the battle, including background, mustering, and aftermath, is found in the controversial Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib.
While a notable victory against an allegedly very powerful foe, and a new source of great confidence for the rising Dál gCais, Sulcoit appears to have been of less consequence to Ivar and the Norse themselves, who reappeared in only a year or two. They would not be substantially driven out of Munster until 972, and this only achieved by the combined forces of the Dál gCais and the rival Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
with the aid of other nobles of the province.