Learning about The Normans
Mrs Donohoe's 3rd/4th class have recently being studying the Normans in Ireland. To link in with what they had learned, Mrs Donohoe set the class a task of recreating a Norman settlement of either a castle or Motte and Bailey. The Normans first reached the shores of Ireland in 1169 at the request of Diarmuid McMurrough, the then King of Leinster, to assist him with the constant warring of other Irish kings and chieftains. Richard de Clare, otherwise known as Strongbow, arrived in Wexford to help McMurrough who promised him alnd and the hand of his daughter, Aoife. When McMurrough died in 1171, Richard de Clare became the new King of Leinster. The Normans soon controlled most of the isalnd except Ulster which was still ruled by the O'Neill Gaelic dynasty.
The Normans were skilled artisans and very quickly began building large castles where they could defend the land they had now taken from the Gaelic chieftains. They also built motte and baileys around the country, the remains of one can be seen at Mannan Castle, Donaghmoyne. The motte was a flat topped, circular mound surrounded by a palisade (constructed wooden fence) and the bailey was at the base where animals were housed. In some cases a moat was built around the edge filled with water as another method of defence.
The pupils diligently recreated these structures and brought their work into school to proudly display them. Well done to Mrs Donohoe's class. What a wonderful way to enjoy history by creatively being active and using whatever materials they could find at home to plan and create their structures.