DUBLINIA VIKINGS IN DUBLIN
Vikings and Strongbow at Dublin’s Christ Church
Vikings
are in! At least young Vikings who train dragons – but you’ll
find no dragons in Dublin – at least not until after several pints
of Guinness. Dublinia (spelled on the signs Dvblinia just for a little
confusion) is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the capital
city of Ireland.
Located in the heart of Dublin’s old medieval city area, the Dublinia
and Viking World exhibit, first opened in 1993 in the former Victorian
era Synod Hall of Christ Church Cathedral, presents the history of medieval
Dublin and
the Viking
period in Ireland after the Norse marauders first began raiding the
coastal shores
of Ireland in 795AD. Over the next few centuries the Vikings began to establish
settlements on the river inlets of the island, one of which became the
principal city of Dublin, where the Norwegian King Olaf the White built
a settlement
on the Liffey River in 841, though curiously Dublinia is the Latin name
not
the
Norse
one.
In
the Viking World you can follow the story of the Scandinavian raiders,
traders and
settlers
from their first attacks on the Irish monasteries (see Book
of Kells) to the end of the Viking era. See what life
was like aboard a Viking warship, discover why they looted monasteries
and even be chained
up as a slave. Experience the sights and the sounds of a Viking street
and see a Viking family in their house – even in the crapper
- and investigate their unique burial customs until their ultimately
defeat and expulsion from
Ireland in 1014 by the Celtic King Brian Boru in the Battle of Clontarf
just north of Dublin (see Clontarf
Castle). Boru was unfortunately killed in the
battle, so even though the Vikings were gone, Celtic Ireland, rather than
united, fell into struggles for supremacy among petty Celtic lords - until
the Normans came.
The
Medieval Dublin exhibit follows the history of Dublin from the defeat
of the Vikings
and capture
of the city in 1170 by “Strongbow”,
the Norman Lord Richard Fitzgilbert de Clare from the court of Henry III
who came to Ireland at the behest of Dermot MacMurrough (Diarmaid
Mac Murchadha), the King of Leinster, who had been chased from
to England by his rivals. Strongbow was a strong administrator who brought
the Anglo-Norman influence to Ireland and married the king’s young
daughter Aoife. He became governor of Ireland for a time until dying,
not from battle,
but a foot infection. The medievel exhibit explores up until Henry VIII's
dissolution of the Catholic Abbeys in the 1500s.
After
the Dublinia Viking World exhibit, exit through a bridge to the
massive and beautiful Christ Church
(admission
can be combined with Dublinia). The Cathedral
of the Holy Trinity, commonly referred to as Christ Church Cathedral, is
the mother church of the (Anglican) Church of Ireland, established by the
English-Normans as Dublin’s principal cathedral of the medieval
age. Along the nave you can find the effigy of Strongbow, hand to chin,
eyes to the gothic arched
ceiling. Strongbow was buried in Christchurch, but the original tomb was
destroyed when the cathedral roof fell on it in the 16th Century and he
was moved to the Cathedral in Ferns, Ireland. It’s actually another
fellow’s
effigy standing in for the Welsh marcher Norman who forever established
post Celtic Ireland (see Trim Castle),
but good for a picture.
Visiting Dublinia Viking World and Christ Church Cathedral
Christ
Church Cathedral and the Dublinia exhibit are located across from
Dublin Castle
on High
Street. A discounted
combined ticket with Christchurch Cathedral is available. Visitors to
Dublinia can climb the 96 steps of the tower of St Michael's Chuch for
a view of the city where an information panel identifies historic and modern
landmarks, though access to the viewing tower is weather permitting. For
young Viking fans the gift shop offers a wide range of medieval inspired
goodies. © Bargain
Travel Europe
Find best travel deals in Dublin at TripAdvisor
Web
Info
Dublinia
Exhibit
These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission.
SEE ALSO:
DUBLIN’S
TEMPLE BAR - PUBS & IRISH MUSIC
DRIVING
IRELAND'S SCENIC COUNTRYSIDE
25 FREE THINGS TO DO IN IRELAND
HOWTH
VILLAGE - COASTAL CLIFFS NEAR DUBLIN
