Grisly tales from the Anglo-Norman advance: horrors of the twelfth century

  • Free to visit

Thursday, 29 October 2026

Event times:

19:00 - 20:00

Event location:

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

Event price:

€0.00

About this event

The Year of the Norman is approaching, get a head start on their story from DIAS Fellow Dr Seán Ó Hoireabhárd, part of Samhain agus Science 2026. The arrival of the Anglo-Normans in 1169 changed Ireland forever.

Their conquests and institutions reshaped the island’s political and cultural landscape, creating an Ireland of ‘two nations’. This talk explores the violent reality of their impact and how Irish kings sought to respond. It also considers the limits of conquest and the ethnic tensions that emerged as expansion stalled. Political and military deadlock left both communities in limbo, with each increasingly viewing the other as an existential threat. Their worsening relations and deeply felt grievances offer a compelling study of conflict and coexistence, with wider relevance to our understanding of colonial societies.

Free event, booking available.

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