Summary: Henry II and Dermot MacMurrough
Key dates:
Before the Normans came to Ireland, it had been a country with many kings one of which emerged as High King. One of the Irish kings, Dermot MacMurrough, who was having a difficult time with other kings, sought out the English king, Henry II and asked for help. At this time Henry was fighting a war in France but he agreed that some of his knights could come to Ireland and the first of these arrived in 1169. In return, Dermot swore allegiance to Henry. Because he was seen as being responsible for bringing the Normans to Ireland, Dermot has been nicknamed Dermot of the Foreigners.
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