Summary: In the Viking Age
Key dates:
The Vikings raided monasteries from 795 onwards. These monasteries offered rich pickings as they were rich in precious metals, gold and silver. The monks usually fled and one monk recorded his feelings in the margin of his work.
During the Viking wars, stone churches began to be built and round towers, which had originated as belfries, became places of refuge
From c 900 the Irish Vikings were becoming Christian and many high crosses were carved and erected.
Waterford was an important Viking centre and had many churches, as the Vikings there had become Christian by the early 11th century. St Peter’s Church was built outside the ramparts and was originally constructed in wood as the post holes indicate. It is surrounded by a group of burials in simple earth-cut graves and two burials covered with charcoal (an Anglo-Saxon tradition). By the early 12th century the stone building had begun and stone lined graves date from then also.
In the mid 12th century the apse was added to the east side of the church, followed by the stone nave. This semi-circular apse is the only one of its kind in Ireland.
Many beautiful shrines date from this period.
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