Page 142 - Demo

142 Stephen Dunford: The Journey of The IrIsh
Dermot and his followers, numbering about five hundred joined them at once and their united forces quickly attacked and captured Wexford town and easily overran the surround- ing regions. In the aftermath, in fulfillment of his notorious pledge, Dermot bestowed the city of Wexford upon Fitzstephen.
The landing of the Normans
Ironically, Wexford was a Norse city with a Norse governor, so maybe it should be men- tioned here by way of quick explanation, that after the Norse power was overthrown by Brian Boru, the civilised and mostly Christianised Norse, those who followed the peaceful pursuits of trade and commerce, were permitted to remain, and to hold several cities, such as Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Limerick-under tribute to the Irish princes of the ter- ritories.
In any case, alarmed by these worrying events, the High-King, Rory O’Connor, sum- moned the Irish princes to a council near Tara; and, as a result, a large army was mobilised, which, with Rory at its head, marched south to Ferns, in Wexford. The Norman-MacMur- rough forces being found to be strongly entrenched, a treaty, albeit a weak and naive one was agreed upon.
By this treaty, Dermot was unwisely permitted to enjoy his kingship of Leinster again,
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