Eleventh Century AD

Worksheet 4

‘Doomed to Die’

Battle of Clontarf

Fact File

Sitric Silkbeard, the Viking King of Dublin got his nickname because he was young when he became king. His father was a Viking but his mother was the sister of the King of Leinster and his wife was the daughter of Brian Boru.

The Battle of Clontarf was a great victory for the Irish and it broke the Viking power in the country.

Unfortunately it resulted in the death of not only Brian Boru (he was seventy-six which made him an extraordinarily old man for those times) but also in the death of Murrough his son who had been carefully trained to succeed him as high king.

Read &Write:

1. What is the date of the Battle of Clontarf?

2. Chapter 1 Which two Viking leaders were coming to Dublin to aid Sitric, Viking King of Dublin?

3. Chapter 1 What was the name of the Irish king who was on Sitric’s side?

4. Chapter 2 Where is Clontarf?

5. Chapter 4 Where was Brian Boru’s tent during the battle?

6. Chapter 4 What happened to Murrough, son of Brian Boru and to Turlough, grandson of Brian Boru.

Draw…!

Draw a picture of Sitric Silkbeard with his Irish mother and his Irish wife on the ramparts of Dublin.

Explore…!

Make a class model of the Battle of Clontarf from plasticine or clay. Don’t forget to put the Vikings with their backs to the sea and the Irish with their backs to the hillside. Look on a map to see where the river Tolka goes.

Imagine…!

Imagine that you are Turlough. Tell the story of the long march to Dublin and the excitement of the battle.

Imagine that radio or TV had been invented. Give an account of the battle as if it were a football match. Introduce it by naming the 'the ‘teams’ and then give an exciting account of the progress of the battle from dawn until sunset.