© Image – The National Gallery of Ireland
Address of the National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland,
Merion Square West,
Dublin 2,
Ireland.
Some of Ireland best collections of Art can be found in the National Gallery of Ireland and it’s why we’d recommend visiting this building to be marvelled by the World renowned exhibitions that take place here. It’s been a few years since I’ve attended the National Gallery but I loved it so much it’s stayed very clear in my memory which is what we want for you when you visit Ireland.
The Gallery is open 7 days a week and the staff are extremely enthusiastic about everything on show.
The opening times are:
Monday – Saturday (including public holidays): 9.15am – 5.30pm
Thursday: 9.15am – 8.30pm
Sunday: 11am – 5.30pm
The Painting
One of Ireland’s most beloved paintings, The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife by Daniel Macilse, his genius apparent as he painted this masterpiece in 1854 with oils onto canvas.
You can see this iconic painting in The National Gallery of Ireland where it is on permanent display for the world to marvel in its epic history and beauty. This masterpiece was originally commissioned to hang in the House of Lords in the palace of Westminster in London.
Where it would have hung with other paintings depicting all of Britain’s Colonies. Sir Richard Wallace gave it to the National Gallery of Ireland in 1879. With time the painting lost some of its colorful luster and had to be restored this was generously paid for by The Bank of America Merrill Lloyd, this restoration process took 7 years and as of 2017 the painting is proudly displayed in its new permanent home.
One of the most iconic paintings in Irish History is the magnificent painting by Daniel Macikse, depicting the marriage of the Norman Lord Strongbow to Aoife MacMurrough, the daughter of the deposed King of Lenister. The painting is a depiction of the marriage that was promised to Strongbow once he conquered Ireland and restored MacMurrough to power.
This is the moment in history that Irelands future was shaped for almost 800 years. This was the moment when Norman power in Ireland became cemented deep in our past and influenced our future.
The painting shows the Norman Lord and Aoife in the streets of the newly conquered Waterford, surrounded by the bodies of the Native Irish who had dared to stand against the might of the Norman forces that brought Waterford under their control in just 3 days, One of Irelands most fiercely defended Hibernia-Viking strongholds was brought to heal in a wave of violent terror the like of which had never been witnessed on Irish Soil.
The poignant imagery depicts the beautiful Aoife surrounded by her dead countrymen, holding the hand of her new Norman husband. This was a marriage that would influence the course of Irish and English history for generation. Their heirs and bloodline became part of most of the royal courts of Europe after the next several centuries. The painting depicts the fierce might of the Norman’s with Waterford wrapped in the flames of conquest, the might of Christianity was to take hold of the native Irish.
The naked Irish laying dead against the might of the Normans, some might say showing how the Normans saw themselves as the civilized warriors bringing an end to generations of Irish warrior traditions. Their new methods of warfare now laid bear and their military advantage of amour making this conquest possible. The painting also shows the marriage as being presided over by Aoife’s Uncle Saint Laurence O’Toole who was the Archbishop of Dublin and was canonized in 1225.
Who was Daniel Maclise?
Daniel Maclise is an Irish painter, famous for his depiction of The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife, which he painted in 1854. He was born in Cork and went on to study at the Cork School of Art in 1825. His first famous work was a sketch of Sir Walter Scot which he later transformed into a lithograph and this in turn lead to him becoming a very popular portrait artist for which he commonly used pencil He went on to study in London in 1827.
He was a student of the Royal Academy and was awarded many of their highest awards. He had a wonderful career experimenting with many different art forms and techniques. He died of pneumonia in 1870 at his home in Chelsea. His imagination and artist genius became his most famous attributes as an artist.
Who was Strongbow?
Richard de Clare was the 2ND Earl of Pembroke and would go on to be the Lord of Leinster and Justiciar of Ireland. He was a Welsh Norman Lord and was most famous for leading the Norman Invasion and conquest of Ireland.
He is commonly known as Strongbow and were this name comes from is up for debate but is assumed that somewhere in translation from French to Latin it was a mistake in the pronouncing of Striguil over which he was also a lord, and is now modern-day Chepstow. It is very unlikely that he was called Strongbow at the point of the invasion of Ireland.
Richard was the son of Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Isabel de Beaumont. Gilbert died when Richard was about 18, and with that, his life changed forever as he was the heir and inherited his father’s lands and the title Count of Strigoil and Earl of Pembroke.
However, the title Earl of Pembroke was under dispute as it may not have been recognized by Henry II, as Gilbert had sided with King Stephen instead of Henry’s mother the Empress Matilda during a period known as The Anarchy when the two were in battle for the crown of England.
Strongbow would have been known as Count Striguil to his contemporizes after his stronghold in the Welsh Marches. He was out of favor with King Henry and wasn’t getting royal favor or opportunities to advance or expand his lands.
Strongbow’s luck changed when Dermot MacMurrough the deposed King of Leinster was forced to flee his lost kingdom in search of help from the Normans. He travelled through Britain. After arriving in Bristol, he made his way to the Court of Henry II, which was located in Aquitaine in France in 1166. Henry II gave Dermot a letter that allowed him to recruit the help of the Norman Marcher Lords located in the Welsh Marches.
Strongbow was a shrewd negotiator and had an agreement with Dermot that world changes his life but also the course of Irish History. Strongbow met with Henry II and negotiated the terms of the Norman assistance he had granted. The agreement was that upon the death of Dermot, Strongbow would succeed him and Strongbow would marry Dermot’s daughter Aoife. Strongbow was granted the permission of the King to help
To regain the Kingdom of Leinster for MacMurrough a huge army was assembled the likes of which had never been seen on Irish soil. Many Welsh Marcher Lord’s joined in with the hopes and intentions of gaining new lands. The first wave arrived in 1169 under the command of Robert FitzStephen; however, Strongbow did not arrive until August.1170. Once Waterford fell to the Norman forces Strongbow married Aoife under the Brehon Laws at the site of what is now occupied by Reginald’s tower.
Dermot died in May 1171 and was initially succeeded by his son Donal. However, Strongbow also claimed the Kingship in the name of his wife, which she was entitled to under the Brehon Laws. Strongbows Uncle went to the King to agree terms and Strongbows lands in France, England and Wales were returned, he also retained his lands in Ireland. Strongbow had to surrender Dublin and Waterford and other strongholds to Henry as well as assisting Henry in his wars with France.
Strongbow had 2 illigimate daughters Aline who was married to Baron of Naas and Basilla who was married to the Constable of Leinster. With his wife Aoife he had two children, Gilbert who died at a young age and Isabel who was to go one to become his heir and on of the Medieval Worlds most powerful and influential women. Isabel was the 4th Countess of Pembroke.
Henry II brought his army to Ireland to control the power that Strongbow had won in Ireland. When Henry II and his army set foot on Irish Soil, he would become the first English Monarch in History to set foot on Irish Soil. He felt that Strongbow had become to powerful and feared that he would attack his kingdom from Ireland, which he had come to consider a tragic point and a possible place to launch an attack from.
Strongbow died in 1176 from an infection in his leg. There is debate as to where he is buried but it is said that he is buried in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. It is also said that he was interned there by his Uncle in Law Saint Laurence O’Toole.
Strongbows name has become synonymous with the Norman conquest of Ireland and the man who lead the Norman forces to victory over the Irish. He is also responsible for the massive building projects and division of lands among the Norman Lords. Strongbow is also the ancestor of the former presidents of the United States the Bush Family. His legacy lived on in the deeds and achievements of his daughter and her husband, the Greatest Knight that ever lived, William Marshal. Marshall would inherited Strongbows titles, and would have met the man whose daughter he would eventually marry when he arrived at the side of Henry II in Ireland.
Aoife MacMurrough
Aoife MacMurrough was born in approximately 1145 and was the daughter of Dermot MacMurrough and Mor O’Toole. She was the princess of the Kingdom of Leinster. She would have been raised in a very privileged lifestyle and would have been educated and would have been able to read and write in Latin.
Under the Brehon Law Dermot MacMurrough was allowed to have two wives and Aoife was the daughter of his second wife. She knew that her eventual marriage would be arranged to create a political allegiance for her family. She was directed to marry the Norman Lord Strongbow as part of an agreement her father had reached with the Norman Lord.
It was a major part of the agreement Dermot had reached to entice Strongbow to help him regain his lost lands of Leinster and the marriage would then allow Strongbow to become King of Leinster upon the death of Dermot.
Aoife married Strongbow in Waterford 1170, after it was violently conquered by his forces. In her mind she married him under Brehon Law but in reality they were married under Norman Law, as Waterford was now a Norman City.
Little is known of their life together but they had two children Gilbert dc Clare who died a minor and a daughter Isabel de Clare would become one of the Medieval Worlds most powerful women who’s bloodline would run through the major courts of Europe.
After the death of her husband in 1176 she demanded her dower rights to her lands and inheritance and it was granted. She lived out her days a very wealthy woman.
There are many legends about Aoife’s life and death. Some say she is buried in Kilkenny but the most common thought is that she is buried in Tintern Abbey Major in Wales along with her daughter Isabel. It is not clear when she died but she is mentioned in official charters in 1188.