Tag Archives: Brian Boru

A NEW video made by the UCD School of History and Archives to mark the Battle of Clontarf provides a re-evaluation of the true place of Brian Boru in Irish history. Launched by Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, the half hour video is presented by leading historians on location in Clontarf and is illustrated with a wealth of visual historical material. Commemorating Clontarf: 1014 through the Ages is freely available to the public from this Thursday on UCD’s public history website, HistoryHub.ie. The video offers a fresh and fully researched perspective on Clontarf for students of all ages. It charts how the 1014 battle was skilfully usurped and retold by various nationalists for political purposes. It focuses in particular on Daniel O’Connell in 1843 and the Irish Volunteers in 1914 both of whom artfully propagated the myth of a David and Goliath struggle of the Irish against powerful foreign oppressors. This UCD video challenges this myth and shows how Brian …

Read our full 12 page supplement detailing the Brian Boru commemorations in Killaloe, which begin this weekend. Read the supplement online here.

By Dan Danaher VOLUNTEERS  in the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina will don suits of armour this weekend as they turn back time to stage battle re-enactments as part of the Brian Ború Millennium Commemoration. A weekend of family fun and entertainment has been organised for the main flagship event to commemorate 1,000 years since the death of Killaloe’s most famous son.  The Boru commemoration celebrations have the potential to generate an estimated €1.8 million in the region during 2014. A business plan, prepared by the Killaloe Ballina organising committee, also expects the year-long festival to generate an extra 5,800 extra bed nights in the area. Visitors to Killaloe and Ballina will step back in time and experience a glimpse of life in medieval Ireland during this weekend’s festivities. Organisers have announced a comprehensive programme for the event, which marks the 1000th year anniversary of the death of Brian Ború who lived and reigned as High King of Ireland …

THE St Patrick’s Day parade in Killaloe was one of the biggest in the county, with enthusiastic crowd watching it cross from Ballina into Killaloe.   The was plenty of colour and atmosphere, with a diverse range of floats, as well as bands and community groups. The organisers were delighted that the parade, one of the key events in the Brian Boru millennium programme, was such an overwhelming success.

LIMERICK City Council is inviting members of the public to have their say on a proposal to rename two of the city’s landmark locations in honour of  Brian Boru and John F Kennedy. The council  wants to gauge public opinion on the renaming of The Shannon Bridge as ‘John Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge’ and the area at Merchant’s Quay in the vicinity of Limerick City Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral, as ‘Brian Boru Square’. JFK, who had close ancestral ties with Limerick, was honoured as a Freeman of Limerick, which he visited during his 1963 trip to Ireland. 2014 marks the 1000th anniversary of Brian Boru’s death following his victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf. The High King of Ireland was also born on the banks of the River Shannon at  Killaloe, a short distance from Limerick.

THE night skies over Lough Derg were illuminated with fireworks, as the new year dawned, marking the start of the Brian Boru Millennium Celebrations – Killaloe Ballina 2014. It’s a year-long festival, built around the famous High King of Ireland, who was killed after victory in the Battle of Clontarf  in 1014. The aim of the organising committee is to “reclaim” during 2014 Killaloe’s place as capital of Ireland, as it was during the Clare king’s reign. On New Year’s Eve, people from near and far descended on the twin towns to witness a ceremonial march from four locations to meet at Kincora, the spot where Brian’s palace once stood. In addition to the launch, the festival will include four other key anchor events: Killaloe Ballina St. Patrick’s Festival April Millennium Commemorations Féile Brian Boru 2014, leading a packed summer programme including the Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk October 10.14 Celebrations The festival will also see the launch of the new National Brian …