The Norman Invasion of Ireland

"The Anglo-Norman invasion... has left an indelible mark on the face and character of the country... No other event except the preaching of the gospel by Saint Patrick and his companions has so changed the destinies of Ireland"
Today many of Ireland's customs, placenames, towns, and even faces still act as a daily reminder to us of the influence that the Normans had on Ireland. Few Irish people are unfamiliar with the names of men such as Strongbow and Henry II. From numerous sources (such as the annals, Gerald of Wales' account of the invasion, correspondences of the popes at the tim…