The Vikings were established in Dublin around 830-840AD.
Contrary to 'Hollywood-style' epics, the Vikings engaged in trade, crafts and the arts as well as seafaring, pillaging, looting and the ravishing of fair damsels, principally in the british isles out of York [ Jorvik ] and Dublin [ Duiblinn ], the latter famed for its silver. They also [reportedly] made landfall on the North American continent some 500 years before Columbus, [ "Vinland" ].
They were finally expelled by the united Irish kings in about 989AD, so the 1000th anniversary was either 164 or 17 years ago, depending on which way you want to look at it. Some settled in Normandy and 77 years later, under Gwilliaum Conquerant, defeated the Anglo-Saxons at Hastings in 1066. Since the entire population of the british isles then was probably less than 2 million, Viking bloodlines are extensive still in the UK and the Republic. Energetic little buggers, were'nt they?
BTW, the Jorvic [ York, England ] centre is a brilliant reproduction of a Viking town, c/w the sounds & smells of everyday life, and worth a visit.
Alan
