Chronological history of Dublin to 1699.

**The older the date, the more likely it is to be approximate.

Up to 800

70.** The Romans in Britain collect information about Ireland. Their general, Agricola, decides against invasion.

130. Ptolemy’s map shows Eblana (Dublin).

166. Ireland was divided into two parts, by a line drawn from the eastern to the western *Ath-cliath, *between Conn of the Hundred Battles, and Mogha Nuadhat, otherwise called Eogan the Splendid.

291. Fiacha Sraibhtine, monarch of Ireland, quelled the rebellious inhabitants of Leinster, in a battle fought this year at Dublin (Duibhlinn).

650. Saint Beraidh, abbot of Dublin, died this year.

From this it appears that there was a monastery established in Dublin at an early period, although not mentioned in the Monasticon Hibernicum.

764. Three months of snow recorded.**

765**. The Kianacts of Bregia and the Hy-Tegh of Leinster fought a battle this year at Leinster: a great slaughter of the Lagenians ensued, and many of the Kianacts were drowned in the sea.

785. Siadhal, abbot of Dublin, died. Annals mention no other abbot of Dublin; the reason is manifest. The barbarous pagans of Scandinavia became masters of the city soon after, and it is not to be supposed that they who lived by robbery and plunder would allow a number of Irish monks to lead a peaceable live in a city into which they carried all their spoils.

795. Vikings attack Lambay Island.

836. A Norwegian fleet (These were Norwegians, not Danes, consisting of 60 ships, arrived in the Boyne; and another of the same number in the Liffey; these two large fleets plundered and laid waste Moy-Liffey (Mágh-Life or the plain of the Liffey was that level part of the County of Kildare through which that river winds its course. Kilcullen was in it.) and Moy-Brá (i.e. the splendid plain, was situated between the Boyne and the Liffey; it was the eastern part of ancient Meath.) both their churches and houses, flocks and herds.

The inhabitants of Moy-brá gave battle to these foreigners at Mogdorna, in Moybra, and killed 120 of them.

These Northmen defeated the inhabitants of Meath at Inver-na-mBrac (i.e. the harbour of the ships) where a most bloody engagement took place; no Irish chief, however, was killed in this battle.

In this year all the churches of Logh Erne, Clones, Devenish, Iniskeltra, &c., were plundered and burned by them. Saxoly, their chief, was killed by the Kianacts of Meath, and they were defeated with great slaughter at Ashroe and Carnferadh.

*In this year they first took and became masters of Dublin.

*840. The Northmen erected a fortress at Linnduavhaill (Cathal Maguire, in his annotations upon the festilogy of Aeugus, informs us that Linn-Duachaill was situated upon the banks of the Cassan-line in Ulster, Cassan-line is now called the river Lagan, and Linnduachaill, Magheralin in the barony of lower Iveagh, Co. Down.) out of which several parties sallied forth to plunder churches and monasteries; they penetrated as far as Teffia, in Meath, and plundered its churches, and other houses. They erected another fortress at Dublin, out of which they sent parties who plundered Leinster and the territories of the Southern Hy-Nialla, as far as Slieve-Bloom; on this excursion they carried away both lay and ecclesiastical property.

844. The Northmen of Dublin made an incursion into *Cluana-an-dobhair, *and plundered the fort of *Killachaidh, *where Disiuadhat, the son of Segene, obtained the crown of martyrdom from their sacrilegious hands. They also plundered Dunmask, (Now called Dunamase, an isolated rock whereon are to be seen the ruins of a strong fortress, dismantled by Cromwell.) where Hugh, the son of Dubhdachrioch, abbot of *Tirdaglass *and *Clonenagh, *was taken and led away by these merciless barbarians, into Munster, where they put him to death on the 8th of July. Kethern, prior of Kildare, and many others, were slaughtered at the same time,

845. The Danes of Dublin were defeated with considerable slaughter at *Carn-Brammit, *by Carroll, the son of Donnelly, chief of Ossory. In this battle 200 Danes were killed.

The *Dubhgalls *arrived this year in Dublin, slaughtered the Fingalls, (Duald Mac Firbis, the only pillar and guardian of Irish antiquities, while he lived, and whose death was an irreparable loss to any further improvement in them, informs us, in his account of Danish families in Ireland, that by *Fionn-Ghoill *or *Fionn-Lochlannaigh, *the Irish writers meant the *Norwegians, (Lucht na hIorruaidhe, i.e. na Norwegia) and by Dubh-Ghoill, *or *Dubhlochlannaigh *the inhabitants of Denmark (Na Danair on Dania.)) demolished their fortress, and carried off prisoners and property.

847. Dublin was plundered by Maelseachlaim, the son of Mulroney and Tigernach, lord of *Loch-Gabhair.

*859. Malachy, king of Ireland fought the battle of Drummoy against the Danes of Dublin, where many of them fell.

865. The son of Galian defeated the Danes of Dublin, and killed *Odolb Micle.

*871. The Danes of Dublin plundered Munster. Imar, king of the Danes of England and Ireland died.

878. S. Cianan’s Church, Duleek, was plundered by the Danes, and many people taken prisoners. But Barith, the chief of these merciless plunderers was afterwards killed and burned in Dublin. This was attributed to a miracle of God and S. Cianan.

885. Flann, the son of Malachy, king of Ireland, was** **defeated in a battle by the Danes of Dublin, where Hugh, son of Connor: king of Connaught, Lergas, bishop of Kildare, and Donogh, son of Maelduin, abbot of Kildelga and other churches, and many others were killed.

890. Gluniarn at the head of the Danes of Dublin despoiled Armagh, partly destroying the great church, and levelling to the ground divers other edifices, and carrying away captive 710 of the inhabitants.

897. The Danes were driven from their garrison in Dublin, and out of Ireland by the son of Muiregen, by the Lagenians, and by Maelfinna assisted by the men of Bregia; they fled, leaving many ships behind them.

**900

916**; Kildare was plundered by the Danes of Dublin.

917. A furious battle was fought in this year, on the 17th of October, between the Irish and Danes, at Dublin. Imar and Sitric commanded the Danes in this battle. There fell on the side of the Irish, Niall Glundubh, son of Hugh Finliath, who was king of Ireland for three years. Connor O’Maoileachluin, heir apparent to the throne of Ireland. Hugh the son of Eochagan, king of Ulidia, Maolmith, the son of Flanagan, lord of Bregia, Maolcraoibhe O’Duibhsionnaigh, lord of Oirghiall, Maelcraoibhe, son of Doilghen, lord of Tartan, Ceallach, son of Fogarty, lord of the south of Bregia, Cromman the son of Kinnedy, and many other nobles too numerous to be mentioned.

918. A battle was fought at *Tigh mac Eochy, *in Kinnachta of Bregia by Donchad the son of Flan, son of Malachy, against the Danes, and countless numbers of the Danes fell in it, and the Irish obtained satisfaction for the loss of their chieftains in the battle of Dublin, for there fell in this battle as many of the nobles of the Northmen as the Irish lost of chieftains and plebians in the battle of Dublin.

919. Godfred, grandson of Imar, settled at Dublin, and in a short time afterwards plundered Armagh, with a numerous host, the Saturday before S. Martin’s festival, but he spared the churches, the Coledei and the sick. He plundered the country all around - west, as far as Inishlabhradha - east, as far as the river Bann, and north as far as Moy-Ullsen; but the party that went northwards were watched and defeated by Murtogh, the son of Niall, and by Agnert, the son of Murchadh, who killed many of them, but the darkness of the night approaching, the remnant of the Danes escaped.

924. Murtogh, the son of Neill, and the Ultonians defeated the Danes at the bridge of *Cinan na Cruimther, *on Friday the 28th of December, where 800 of the Danes were killed together with their chieftains, Albdarm, the son of Godfred, Aufe and Roilt.

The other part of the Danes who were stationed at *Ath-Cruithne, *had suffered a week’s famine until Godfred, lord of the Danes of Dublin came to their assistance.

923. Faelan, king of Leinster and his son Lorcan, were taken by the Danes of Dublin.

925. Godfred and his Danes fled from Dublin, but returned at the end of six months.

928. Godfred with the Danes of Dublin demolished *Dere-Ferna, *where 1,000 people were killed.

934. Clonmacnoise was plundered by the Danes of Dublin. In the same year Donchad the son of Flann reduced Dublin to ashes.

935. Amlave, the son of Godfred, lord of the Danes, set out from Dublin to *Loch Ribh, *in the month of August, and he carried away thence by force, Amlave Ceanncarach and his Danes, after having destroyed their ships.

The Danes of Dublin fled from their garrison there, and passed over to England.

936. Amlave the son of Godfred returned to Dublin, plundered Kilcullen, and led many captives out of it.

Donchad, King of Ireland, and Muirchertach, having joined all their forces together, marched with a numerous army to Dublin, and laid siege to the garrison ; they despoiled and plundered all the possessions of the Danes from Dublin to Athy.

937. The Danes fled from Dublin. This was attributed to the prayers of Macthalius, patron saint of the city.

938. Blacar, the son of Godfred, returns to Dublin.

939. Muirchertach Mac Neill, king of *Oilech *came to Dublin, and the Danes gave him hostages.

940. Clonmacnoise and Kildare were plundered by Blacar, son of Godfred, at the head of the Danes of Dublin.

941. Muirchertach na g-Cochall gCroiceann, son of Neill Glundubh, king of Oilech, the Hector, (i. e. the bravest,) of the west of Europe in his time was killed at Ardee by Blacar, the son of Godfred, lord of the Danes of Dublin, on the 26th of March. The Danes on the day after the fall of Muirchertach plundered Armagh.

942. Dublin was devastated by the Irish, viz. by Congalach son of Maolmitheach heir apparent to the throne of Ireland, assisted by Braen, son of Maohmorda, king of Leinster, and by Kellach, son of Faelan, heir apparent to the throne of Leinster. They reduced to ashes all their houses, fortifications, ships, &c. led captive their women, sons, plebeians, &c, killed their soldiers and totally extirpated the Danes, save only a small number who fled in a few ships to Delginis *(Delginny).

*943. Blacar, one of the chiefs of the Danes was driven from Dublin, and Arnlave, settled there after him.

944, The Danes of Dublin plundered Clonmacnoise, and all the other churches of Meath.

945. Rory O’Cannanan led an army to Slane, and was joined by the Irish and some Danes, viz. by Congalach, son of Maolmethedh, and by Amlave Cuaran, a Dane. They defeated the Danes of Dublin. In this battle great numbers were killed and drowned.

Scoly O’Hegan, lord of Dartry, Garvey, son of Murray Tanist of Hy-Crimthan, and Hugh, the son of Tiernan O’Ruairc, fell fighting in the thick of the battle. Dublin was this year plundered by Congalach, king of Ireland.

946. Congalach. king of Ireland fought the battle of Dublin against Blacar, son of Godfred, lord of the Northmen; In this battle fell Blacar himself and 1,600 of his people were killed, wounded or taken prisoners.

948. The round tower of Slane was burned by the Danes this year. The tower at this time was full of relics and religious people, among whom was Caoineacair lecturer of divinity at Slane, among the relics were the Crozier of Saint Erlama, and the best bell in all Ireland.

A bloody battle was fought this year between the Irish and Danes, that is, between Rory O’Cannanan and the Danes of Dublin on the festival of St. Andrew precisely. In this battle the Danes were defeated with great slaughter; 6,000 of their bravest men were left dead on the plain, not reckoning others of inferior note. Rory heir apparent to the crown of Ireland, fell fighting in the thick of this battle. Imar Tanist of the Danes fell also; Godfred, the son of Sitric, and a few men survived.

949. Godfred, the son of Sitric with the Danes of Dublin; plundered Kells, Downpatrick, Ardbreccan, Tulan, Disirt Kiarain, Kilskerry, and other churches. They totally devastated Kells, carried, away more than 3,000 prisoners with gold, silver, and other riches.

In this year the Danes of Dublin were afflicted with scurvy and dysentery,

954. Congalach, king of Ireland, fought a battle against Amlave, son of Godfred, lord of the Dunes of Dublin, in which he himself, with many other Irish chieftains, lost their lives.

959. Lightning which originated in the south-west, passed through Leinster and killed a thousand persons, and some herds in the neighbourhood of Dublin.

960. Sitric Cam (the Stooped) set out in his ship to plunder My-Colgan, but Amlave at the head of the Danes of Dublin and the Lagenians checked his design. Amlave shot him with an arrow through the thigh.

Sitric was routed, and his people slaughtered, but he made his escape by taking flight with his ships.

965. An incursion was made this year by the Danes of Dublin and the Lagenians into Bregia, which they plundered. On this expedition, Carroll, son of Lorcan, heir apparent to the crown of Leinster, was mortally wounded.

976. The Danes of Dublin fought the battle of Biothlann, against the Lagenians, in which were killed Augaire, son or Tuathal, king of Leinster, and Murray, son of Rian, lord of Hy-Kinsellagh, and many others.

977. Donall Claen, king of Leinster, was taken prisoner by the Danes of Dublin.

978. The Battle of Tarah was fought this year, by Malachy, the son of Donall (afterwards king of Ireland) against the Danes of Dublin and of the Islands. In this battle the Danes were defeated and slaughtered; many brave Irish chieftains fell also in the thick of this battle.

979. Amlave, the son of Sitric, chief lord of the Danes of Dublin, passed over into Scotland to Hy-Columbkille, on a pilgrimage, where he died a good penitent.

982. The Danes of Dublin plundered Glendalogh.

985. Maelkiarn O’Maighne *Comharba *of St. Columbkille, received a most cruel martyrdom from the hands of the Danes of Dublin.

988. Malachy, king of Ireland, fought the battle of Dublin against the Danes, in which he killed a countless number of them. After the battle he laid siege to their garrison for 20, during which time they had no drink but salt** **water. They surrendered on whatever conditions he wished to receive them. Malachy received them to mercy, on condition that they would pay to the monarch of Ireland *for ever *one ounce of gold for every cultivated garden in their possession.

992. The Danes of Dublin plundered Ardbreccan, Donagh-patrick, and *Muinebrocain.

*Imar was expelled from Dublin.

993. Sitric, the son of Amlave was expelled from Dublin.

994. Imar returns to Dublin.

The Danes of Dublin plundered Donagh-patrick.

The ring of Tomar, and the sword of Carolus were forcibly carried away by Malachy, king of Ireland, from the Danes of Dublin.

Imar fled again from Dublin, and Sitric takes his place.

995. Mahon, the son of Carroll, lord of Hy-dunchadha was killed in Dublin by Maolmorda, the son of Murchad, in revenge for his father.

997. Malachy, king of Ireland, and *Brian Boru, *marched with an army to Dublin, and obtained hostages and much wealth from the Danes.

998. Kildare was plundered by the Danes of Dublin.

In the same year, Malachy, king of Ireland, and Brian Boru, marched with an army to Glenmama, where they were met in defiance by the Danes of Dublin; a furious battle was fought, in which the Danes were routed and slaughtered. Amongst the slain were recognized Harold the son of Amlave, and Coilen the son of Etigen and many others of the nobles of Dublin.

Malachy and Brian proceeded to Dublin, and remained a week there; they carried away thence gold and silver and prisoners, burned the fortress and expelled Sitric, lord of the Danes.

999. The Danes settled again at Dublin, and gave hostages to Brian Boru.

**1000

1001**. Brian Boru marched to Dublin, captured it and obtained the hostages of the men of Meath and Connaught. The Danes continued to control the city and the valuable trading links.

1012. The Lagenians and Danes waged war against Brian Boru; Brian marched against them, and plundered Leinster as far as Dublin.

1014. The Danes of the north and west of Europe were defeated by Brian Boru, and by Malachy, king of Meath, in the battle of Clontarf, near Dublin. Brian Boru dies as the battle ends.

1015. Plague in Dublin.

1017. Breen, son of Maolmordha, son of Murchad, king of Leinster, was blinded, in Dublin, by Sitric, the Son of Amlave, who took him by treachery. Breen died for the loss of his eyes.

1018. Sitric, the son of Amlave, at the head of the Danes of Dublin; plundered Kells; they carried away rich spoils and many captives, and murdered many in the middle of the church.

1021. Ugaire, the son of Dunlaing, king of Leinster, defeated Sitric, the son of Amlave, and the Danes of Dublin, with great slaughter, at Verge-Mogerog, in the county Wicklow.

1022. Malachy, king of Ireland, defeated the Danes of Dublin, at Athboy, near Tlachtga. The king lived but one month after this battle.

1026. Murtogh, son of Congalach, lord of Ophaly, was killed by the Danes of Dublin.

The Danes of Dublin were defeated the same year at Loch Rein, by Rian, heir apparent to the throne of Temor.

1030. The Danes of Dublin plundered Ardbreccan, burned 200 persons in the stone church, and led captive 200 more.

1035. Reginald, the son of Imar, lord of Waterford, was killed in Dublin, by Sitric, the son of Amlave.

1037. The Danes of Dublin plundered Skreen and Duleek, in Meath.

1045. The Danes of Dublin, under the command of Imar, the son of Harold, slaughtered the Ultonians, in the Island of Rathlin, off the north coast of Antrim, 300 of the Ultonians were killed, together with Randal O’Heochadha.

1052. Maelnambo plundered Fingall, and burned the country from Dublin to Albene. The Danes of Dublin made opposition, and fierce engagements took place outside the fortress of Dublin, where many fell on both sides. Eachmarcach, the son of Reginald, lord of the Danes, fled from Dublin, across the sea, and Maelnambo, assumed the lordship of the Danes.

1067. Smallpox in Dublin.

1070. Murchad, the son of Dermod, son of Maelnambo, lord of the Danes and of Leinster, died in Dublin.

1072. Dermod, son of Maelnambo, king of Leinster, of the Danes of Dublin, and of the Southern half of lreland, was killed and beheaded in the battle of Odhbha, on Tuesday, the 7th of the Ides of February. This battle he fought against Connor O’Melaghlin, king of Meath,

1074. Dunan, first archbishop of Dublin, died.

All married Roman Catholic priests were excommunicated by Pope Gregory on March 9 1074.

1075. Donall Mac Morogh, king of Leinster and of Dublin, died after three nights sickness.

Mortagh O’Brien took Dublin.

1080. Torlogh O’Brien marched with an army to Dublin, and through Meath; and Melaghlin, attended by the successor of St. Patrick, who carried St. Patrick’s crozier, and by the clergy of Munster, submitted to him.

1084. Gillapatrick, bishop of Dublin, was drowned.

1086. Melaghlin, the son of Connor, marched to Dublin, but was defeated by the Danes and Lagenians.

The Danes of Dublin, Wexford, and Waterford, attempting to plunder Cork, were defeated with great slaughter by the *Hy-veachs *of Munster.

1090. Murtogh O’Brien marched through Leinster, at the head of the Momonians and Danes of Dublin, and plundered various districts of it, and also Moybra, as far as Athboy.

1094. The Momonians, under the command of Murtogh O’Brien, expelled Godfrey, lord of the Danes, from Dublin, This Godfrey had 90 ships at Dublin.

1095. A plague raged throughout Europe this year, of which Donngus, bishop of Dublin, and many other holy bishops and abbots died.

**1100

1102**. The men of Ireland marched to Dublin this year to give battle to Magnus and the Norwegians, who came to plunder Ireland. They made peace with the Irish for a year. Murtogh O’Brien gave his daughter in marriage to Sicraid, the son of Magnus, with much riches, and precious articles.

1103. The Danes of Dublin were slaughtered by the Irish.

Magnus, king of Norway and of the Islands, who returned this year to conquer Ireland, was killed, and his people slaughtered by the Ultonians.

1105. Donall, the son of Amalgadh, *Ardchomarba *of St Patrick, *(Archbishop of Armagh), *went to Dublin this year to make peace between Donall O’Loughlin and Murtogh O’Brien.

1107. Donall, son of Teige O’Brien, was cast in chains by Murtogh O’Brien, in Dublin, but set at liberty soon after.

1115. Donall O’Brien and the Danes of Dublin overthrew the Lagenians, and killed Donchad, lord of Hy-Kinsella. Connor O’Connor, lord of Ophaly, with his son and many others, were killed.

1117. Dermod M’Enna, king of Leinster, died at Dublin.

1118. Torlogh O’Conor marched to Dublin, and rescued Donall O’Melaghlin, the son of the King of Temor or from the hands of the Danes, and also obtained hostages from them.

1121. Samuel O’Hangli, bishop of Dublin, died, and Kellach, Comarba of St. Patrick, was transferred to the bishopric of Dublin.

1126. Torlogh O’Conor mustered an army, by which he conquered Leinster and the Danes of Dublin, and placed his son Conor over them.

1127. The Danes of Dublin carried away the shrine of Columbkille, but restored it to its own church a month afterwards.**

1155.** Pope Hadrian IV told Henry II that Ireland is his in the papal bull Laudabiliter.

1169. The first recorded landing by the Normans in Ireland was at Bannow Bay, Wexford, on 1 May 1169.

1170. The Normans arrived outside Dublin. Negotiations started - two English knights rush the town with a few followers. It fell..

1172. Henry II spent three months in Dublin. He gave the city to the men of Bristol.

1176. Richard Talbot was given land in Malahide by Henry II. He starts work on the castle.

1177. Death of Strongbow.

1185. Prince John, 19, Lord of Ireland, visited for nine months.

**1200

**On August 31 1204 King John commanded Meiler Fitzhenry, justiciar of Ireland, to build a castle in Dublin and to establish a fair at Donnybrook. The document reads, in part: “We will, also, that there be a fair at Donnyburn (Donnybrook) annually to continue for eight days on the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross; and another at the Bridge of St. John the Baptist, likewise for eight days, … and we command that you cause it to be thus done, and proclamation made, that all merchants should come thither willingly.’

**

1300

**On April 1 1306 Murcod Ballagh got a nasty surprise - according to ancient Irish records he had the honour of being the first known victim of a guillotine-like execution apparatus.

On March 22 1312 the Order of the Templars was abolished by the Pope.

From All Saints’ Day in 1339 until Easter 1339 an ancient record notes “The Liffey was frozen so that many people disported themselves upon the ice, indulging in games and races; then upon the ice a fire of wood and grass was kindled. The Liffey also froze over in 1739-40 and 1766.

**1400

**On 24 May 1487 Lambert Simnel, 15, claiming to be Earl of Warwick, but in reality the son of a baker, was crowned King of England and Ireland in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Henry VII produced the real Warwick from the Tower of London and made young Lambert a scullion in the royal kitchen.

On November 23 1499 Perkin Warbeck, Flemish imposter claiming to be Richard of York, son of Edward IV, was executed in the Tower of London after two failed escape attempts.

**1500

**On October 7 1583 Dermot O’Hurley, Archbishop of Cashel, was imprisoned in Dublin Castle. He was hung on 20 June 1584. An old account notes “when the report of his execution was spread abroad in the city, certain devout women went forth and had his body brought down, which they carried with great reverence unto a little church without the walls called St Kevin’s, where he was buried and his clothes which he did wear was kept among them as relics of his martyrdom.” O’Hurley was among 17 Irish martyrs beatified in September 1992 by Pope John Paul II.

The charter for The College of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity (Trinity College Dublin), received the Great Seal of Ireland on March 14 1592.

On January 10 1594 Trinity College opened its doors to students. The foundation stone had been laid two years earlier by the Lord Mayor, Thomas Smyth. The first student to enrol was Abel Walsh, the youngest to enter on the day was James Ussher, 13.**

1600

**Fr. Peter Higgins was executed without trial in Dublin on the orders of Sir Charles Coote, governor of Dublin, on 23 March 1642.

At the end of the Irish Rebellion on September 15 1642 Ormond and the Confederation signed a truce at Sigginstown, Co. Kildare, to run for one year.

Cromwell landed in Dublin on 15 August 1649.

The terms of the surrender of Limerick to Ireton were agreed after a five month siege on 27 October 1651. Ireton undertook to spare the lives of soldiers and civilians but excluded from the offer all Catholic priests and 20 men he blamed for the resistance of the city.

‘Black Monday’, a total eclipse of the sun, caused widespread disturbance throughout Europe on March 3 1652.

On 6 January 1653, a proclamation was issued in Dublin ordering all priests to leave the country under pain of death. A reward of £5 was offered to anyone giving information leading to the capture of a priest.

James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh, scholar and theologian, died on 21 March 1656.

One of the first graduates from Trinity College, Dublin, was Dr. James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh, who was buried at Westminster Cathedral on April 6 1656. Ussher had dated the creation of the world to 9am on 26 October 4,004BC, based on his interpretation of Scripture. He had lost his See in 1641 when it was devastated by rebellion. Since then he had lived in England, constantly striving for peace and reconciliation. As a mark of his respect Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, allowed the service to be held in the Anglican liturgy.

The English dictator and one of the most hated men in Irish history, Oliver Cromwell died on 3 September 1658 from pneumonia. Two years after his death his body was exhumed, hanged and decapitated. On the death of his father, Richard Cromwell became Lord Protector of England.

At 8am on Tuesday, 28 October 1662 (possibly 22 December), Sir William Petty, a founder member of the Royal Dublin Society, launched into Dublin Bay the world’s first double-bottomed (twin-hulled) boat, a primitive catamaran. It weighed 30 tons, carried five guns and was crewed by 30 men. The following day Petty wrote to the President of the Royal Society “When I left England, upon my kissing his Majesty’s hand, I had the honour to be told by his Majesty that I should go into Ireland in my own ship, that is in a certain ‘fantastical bottomless double-bottomed machine.’”

On May 9 1671, Irish adventurer Colonel Thomas **Blood, **disguised as a priest, tried to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. Instead of losing his head the thief was rewarded by Charles II. He gave him estates in Ireland and an annual sum of £500.

Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, was captured in the village of Naul, Dublin, on 6 December 1679. Plunkett, who had been in hiding for six years, was charged with treason (The Popish Plot), survived an abortive trial in Dundalk before being moved to Newgate Prison, London. A second trial for treason began in London on 8 June 1681. Found guilty, he was executed at Tyburn later in the year.

Captain Blood, Irish adventurer who tried to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London, died on August 24 1680.

William of Orange and his wife, Mary (the Protestant daughter of the deposed James II), were jointly crowned King and Queen of England on April 11 1689. They were crowned by the Bishop of London as the Archbishop of Canterbury refused to do it.

William of Orange defeated the forces of James II, supported by the French, at the Battle of the Boyne on July 1 1690.

The Treaty of Limerick was signed on 3 October 1691 and the city was surrendered to the army of King William. The Irish forces who had held Galway and Limerick were shipped off to France, leaving no power in Ireland capable of resisting the new order. The Treaty purported to uphold the rights of Roman Catholics but was breached almost from the start.

Robert Boyle, the Irish scientist who formulated Boyle’s law on gases, died on 30 December 1691.

An Act to encourage the settlement of Hugenots in Ireland was passed on November 3 1692.

Irish soldier and leader Patrick Sarsfield died on 23 July 1693. In 1691 he had marched his men out of Limerick following the fall of the city to the army of King William and sailed to France.

Trinity College, Dublin, celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 10 1694, nearly two years late because of the Jacobite rebellion. Among the events was a public debate on the topic “whether the sciences and arts are more indebted to the ancients or the moderns”.

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