The charge of the "aul" brigade.
Some members of the Forum, have in the past, been interested in models of the famous Viking long ships that were employed in the conquest of large portions of western Europe. What is not known, the warriors of these long ships, were at times, drunk out of their minds. Discovered recently, a team of Irish archaeologists recreated heather ale drunk by marauding Vikings to boost their ferocity in battle.
Galway archaeologists , Billy Quinn, Nigel Malcolm and businessman, Declan Moore discovered an ancient ale making recipe dating back to the early 9th century AD that was brewed by the Viking conquerors of Ireland.
"Bheoir Lochlannothis" is made from heather, barley and instead of hops, the herb bog myrtle was used to add flavor and preserve the potion. Linguists believe the word "ale" comes directly from the Norse word "aul". According to legend, Norse invaders consumed large quantities of heather brew to whip up battle frenzy as they charged from their long boats to face a more numerous Irish defenders.
The Vikings, known to the Irish as "gaill" or foreigners, first attacked in 795 AD. By 820, Viking fleets appeared on the north and east coasts of Ireland with hit and run raids. In 840, large Viking fleets commanded by Norwegian jarls, maneuvered up navigatable rivers to plunder the interior of Ireland, focusing their greed on wealthy monasteries. By 850, the Norse invaders decided to make permanent settlements.This is where modern cities as Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Limerick had their origins. At the same time, the invaders mingled with native Irish women and converted to Christianity.
The Norse rule was not all barbarism. First and foremost, the Vikings were traders and merchants. Their outposts were at first military command centers, then in time, became locations for trade and commerce.
The end of Viking domination came in 1014, when the Irish chieftain, Brian Boru defeated a Viking army at Tara. By the 12th century, the descendants of the Norce invaders had become more Irish than the natives. Any connection with Scandinavia was a distant memory.
Story by the Belfast Telegraph for Archaeology Daily News. Courtesy of Crackers Nautical News
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