Many thanks to Carlingford Lough Heritage Trust for inviting me to give a short presentation on my new book on the night of their AGM on Monday February 17th. The large number of attendees appeared to enjoy my talk about the Kings of Aileach and the Vikings. After a quick introduction to the Cenél nEógain population group and early Viking activity in Ulster from c.800 – 866 AD I was able to tailor my talk to Viking activity in the Carlingford and Annagassan region from the 850s to 920s. Members of the Heritage group in particular appeared to enjoy the piece concerning Muirchertach of the Leather Cloaks and his defeat of the Carlingford Vikings and later the combined force of Vikings from Strangford and Annagassan led by Hálfdan of Dublin in December 926. The survivors of this rout were besieged for a week at Áth Cruithne – the Ford of the Cruithin, located in modern-day Sheeptown townland, north-east of Newry. Members of the heritage group speculated whether the Crown Mound feature close to the Ford of the Cruithin played a part in the events of late 926/early 927. This would make this historical monument older than its previously suggested Anglo-Norman origin. Ancient pre-historic mounds located beside fords can sometimes be mistaken for later Anglo-Norman motte-type structures and this may well be the case here. I would like to express my appreciation to attendees of the AGM on the night, many of whom very kindly bought copies of my new book. Many thanks again.
New Book just published January 2020
Hello Everyone. I would like to use this blog to announce the publication of my new book The Kings of Aileach and the Vikings, AD 800-1060. The book is published by Four Courts Press and is available on their website for €22.45 (Normal retail price €24.95). The book tells two intertwined historical stories – the early medieval history of the Cenél nEógain population group – and Viking activity in the north of Ireland. The book grew out of a lot of background research into the Cenél nEógain people, my own family history since the McGettigans were a branch of the Cenél nEógain in early medieval times, and the history of Viking interaction with Ireland, particularly in the early Viking Age before the time of the great Irish high-king Brian Boru (d.1014). I learnt a great deal of new information while writing this book, in particular about some wonderful discoveries of Viking material dredged by archaeologists from Northern Ireland from the bed of the River Blackwater. I also very much enjoyed learning in detail for the first time about many of the Cenél nEógain kings, who were a remarkably talented group of people. I hope readers enjoy the resulting book accompanied as it is by sets of maps, genealogies and 16 pages of colour illustrations. Here is the link to my book on the Four Courts Press website.
My work as a Genealogist
Along with my research as a historian and author I also work occasionally as a genealogist. In 2010 I created my genealogy website www.familyhistoryireland.com and wrote a genealogy blog, which was quite popular, and which ran for a number of years. While I no longer work full-time as a genealogist I do accept some genealogy commissions, usually during the summer months when I have more free-time. With my latest commission (2015) I was able to trace my client’s ancestors back to a Gaelic chieftain who lived towards the end of the thirteenth century. So feel free to contact me if you want to commission some genealogical research, and I will let you know when I have a free window when I will be available.
I hope to upload some of my more popular blogs onto this website over the next few months.