Battlefield in Dublin South City

Battle of Dublin, 1170 - summary by Dr Gavin Hughes. Uploaded 10/12/2020 This battle was the third of three major engagements (see also the battle of Baginbun (WX050-015006-) and the battle of Waterford (WA009-005133-)) that took place in 1170, all of which were associated with the arrival of the Anglo-Norman forces of Richard (Strongbow) de Clare (earl of Pembroke) in Ireland. It occurred a month or so after the capture of Waterford. It witnessed the forces of de Clare co-operating, apparently for the second time, with those of Diarmait Mac Murchada, king of Leinster, in fighting for the control of Dublin city. The accounts for the campaign are mainly to be found in the Song of Dermot and the Earl (Mullally 2002, 93-113), Giraldus Cambrensis' Expugnatio Hibernica (Scott and Martin 1978), the Annals of Tigernach (Stokes 1895-7, vol. 2, 420-26) and Annals of Inisfallen (Mac Airt 1951, 304-5). It is thought that Dublin fell on either 21 or 22 September 1170. The Song (Mullally 2002, 94) suggests that the city surrendered on the Feast of Matthew (21 September) but then attempted to renegotiate the terms which prompted the assault. If that were the case the assault could have taken place on the following day (22 September). This seems to tie in with the account in Expugnatio Hibernica (Scott and Martin 1978, 152-3), when Cambrensis notes that the battle for Dublin took place on a Tuesday. According to the Annals of Tigernach (Stokes 1895-7, vol. 2, 420-26) and the Annals of Inisfallen (Mac Airt 1951, 304-5), Diarmait was in overall command of the forces before Dublin, with the Song (Mullally 2002, 94) suggesting that he and de Clare rode to Dublin together. In de Clare's retinue were Raymond le Gros and Myles de Cogan, who appear to have been instrumental in the assault. Indeed, de Cogan seems to have led the assault and formally handed over the city to de Clare afterwards. According to the sources, de Clare and Diarmait did not take any active part in the battle. Cambrensis (Scott and Martin 1978, 67-9) and the Song (Mullally 2002, 96) indicate that the city's resistance was led by Askulv Mac Torcaill, the last Hiberno-Scandinavian king of Dublin. The Annals of Tigernach (Stokes 1895-7, vol. 2, 425) acknowledge that the king of Connacht and high king of Ireland, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair was present outside the city but that he had no active involvement in the battle. It is noted in the Song (Mullally 2002, 94) that, on the march to Dublin, de Cogan led the 1st company, le Gros commanded the 2nd, and both de Clare and Diarmait led the 3rd, consisting of the bulk of the army. Its suggested size, standing at some 5,500 men, was very much inflated and it is more likely to have been around 1,500 men. Against them, the Song (ibid. 93) claimed the unbelievable figure of 30,000 defenders, whilst Cambrensis (Scott and Martin 1978, 67-9) claimed 'almost all the inhabitants of Ireland' stood before them. It is not known how many men Askulv had at his disposal but he called upon the settlers of Dublin’s extensive hinterland, known as Dyflinnarskíri. Aware of the approaching army from Waterford, Ruaidrí set up camp outside Dublin either at Clondalkin or 'the green of Dublin', which may correspond to a site east of Kilmainham. However, instead of following the direct route through the Barrow valley to Dublin, Diarmait chose to take his force in a flanking movement east, via Glendalough/Wicklow mountains. It is thought that his army approached Dublin from the south-east, by way of the ancient trackway Slige Chulann circumventing Ruaidrí’s camp. Instead of moving against this threat, it appears that Ruaidrí's army remained inactive. The Annals of Tigernach (Stokes 1895-7, vol. 2, 425) state that he waited for the enemy for 'three days and nights, till lightning struck Dublin and demolished it' whilst the Song (Mullally 2002, 94) dryly comments that he merely 'withdrew without another word and the Irish of that region went back to their territories.' Either way, with Ruaidrí’s army no longer able to provide support, the Dublin defenders began to sue for terms of surrender. As they painfully negotiated how many hostages they should deliver, de Cogan (supposedly impatient at the delay) launched a surprise attack with his retinue. This group, according to Cambrensis (Scott and Martin 1978, 67-9), included le Gros and the storming party somehow managed to enter the city. At this Askulv and his followers (very likely any of the Hiberno-Scandinavian citizens who could do so) fled the city by boat. Within hours Dublin was sacked and in the hands of de Clare, largely due to the actions of de Cogan and le Gros. The battle of Dublin has been noted by Duffy (1998, 69-85) as 'Ireland's Hastings' and it certainly had a great political, military and cultural impact. It (temporarily) saw the fortunes of Diarmait rise at Ruaidrí’s expense; although the latter exacted his revenge, as the Annals of Tigernach (Stokes 1895-7, vol. 2, 426) recorded, by subsequently massacring the hostages received by Diarmait. Whilst the battle has been seen as a skirmish, it gave the Anglo-Normans their third operational base (in addition to Wexford and Waterford) and allowed them to expand at will into north Leinster and Meath.