Islands of Ireland: Invasion at Bannow Island changed course of Irish history

The year was 1169 and into Bannow Harbour sailed three ships allied to Richard de Clare, aka Strongbow

Bannow Island, Co Wexford where Anglo-Norman forces landed in 1169. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

There is scarcely an island in the country with as much historical significance as Bannow Island, Co Wexford. Though no longer an island, as it is attached by an overgrown mound of sand, (extensive, but still a mound of sand) it was the launchpad for an invasion that changed the course of Irish history. Had the invasion failed the future would have been very different with Gaelic chieftains in control.

Other islands such as Skellig Michael were significant as the unfortunate locations of Viking raids centuries before, but the arrival of the Anglo Normans to the southeast coast presaged an established order that dominated indigenous governance.