Battle of Tara
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The Battle of Tara took place in 980. On one side there was a Norse army from Dublin supported by troops from the Hebrides and commanded by Olaf Cuaran. The other side was lead by Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, who had recently come to power as head of the southern Uí Néill. The latter's force consisted of troops from his home province of Meath (the Kingdom of Mide), probably with strong support from troops from Leinster and Ulster.
The battle ended in a devastating defeat for the Norse of Dublin. Olaf abdicated and died in religious retirement at Iona. Dublin was besieged by the victorious Máel Sechnaill, and forced it to surrender slaves and valuables, as well as giving up all its prior claims to Uí Néill held territory. In the following decade, Dublin was more or less under the control of Máel Sechnaill and the southern Uí Néill.
The Battle of Tara may have been a more deceicive defeat for the Norse of Dublin than the later, and much more famous, Battle of Clontarf.
[edit] Bibliography
- The Annals of the Four Masters
- Donnchadh Ó Corraín, The Vikings & Ireland
