Originally Posted by setanta

The Holywoodisation of Irish history continues. A couple of points about this Ború fella:

(a) The Vikings that BB and his army fought at Clontarf were not invaders. The Nordy feckers had been here for several generations long before that upstart and usurper got his gander up.

(b) Irish armies fought on both sides at Clontarf. The Vikings were joined by the Leinstermen who had little truck with BB's attempts to set himself up as emperor of the Irish, whatver his propagandist biographers might have claimed.

The Battle of Clontarf was more akin to a civil war fought primarilly for politico-military supremacy within Ireland. I do hope, vainly I am sure, that we don't get some latterday freedom-paen from Hollywood of the plucky, Christian Irish defeating pagan, barbarian Vikings!