Irish Migration To Great Britain - Medieval Era

Medieval Era

During the Dark Ages, significant Irish settlement of western Britain took place, with dynasties such as the Uí Liatháin and groups such as the Scoti, Laigin, Déisi and Dál Riata, settling and colonising places such as Cornwall, south-west Wales and western Scotland. In fact it was the Irish Gaels in Northern Britain(also known as the Scots) who merged with the Picts, founding the Kingdom of Scotland. The Scottish Gaelic language was brought over by the Gaels who settled in Northern Britain and their language and culture replaced that of the Picts and the Britons, and Scotland was an almost entirely Gaelic-speaking country until Northumbrian English began to replace Gaelic in the Lowlands. Gaelic remained the dominant languages of the Highlands into the 19th century and declined due to the Highland Clearances and the education system and is still dominant in the Western Isles. The language is now official in Scotland and is experiencing a revival.

Prior to and concurrent with the Gregorian mission of 596 AD, Irish Celtic Christians such as Columba (521-97), Buriana, Diuma, Ceollach, Saint Machar, Saint Cathan, Saint Blane, Jaruman, Wyllow, Kessog, St Govan, Donnán of Eigg, Foillan and Saint Fursey had successfully begun the conversion of the British, Picts and early English peoples.

Some English monarchs, such as Oswiu of Northumbria (c. 612 – 15 February 670), Aldfrith (died 704 or 705) and Harold Godwinson (died 1066) were either raised in or sought refuge in Ireland, as did Welsh rulers such as Gruffudd ap Cynan. Alfred the Great may have spent some of his childhood in Ireland, a factor in his relationship with the Irish woman, Modwenna.

In 902 AD Vikings who had been forced out of Ireland were given permission by the English to settle in Wirral in the north west of England. An Irish historical record known as "The Three Fragments" refers to a distinct group of settlers living among these Vikings as "Irishmen". Further evidence of this Irish migration to Wirral comes from the name of the village of Irby in Wirral which means "settlement of the Irish" and St. Bridget's church which is known to have been founded by "Vikings from Ireland".

Irish people who made Britain their home in the later medieval era included Princess of Leinster, Aoife MacMurrough (1145–88) the poet Muireadhach Albanach (fl. 1213), the lawyer William of Drogheada (d. 1245), Máel Muire Ó Lachtáin (died 1249), Malachias Hibernicus (fl. 1279-1300), Gilbert Ó Tigernaig (died 1323), Diarmait MacCairbre (executed 1490) and Germyn Lynch (fl. 1441–1483) all of whom made successful careers in Britain.