The history of Ireland from the fifth century onward is so closely tied to the Christian church that it has now become impossible to discover the facts of what transpired before the arrival of the early Christians. There would be little exaggeration in saying that the popes considered all people pawns in the power games they were wont to play with anyone who had any clout that they might be in need of. In view of the fact that Ireland was “given” to the English king Henry II in 1155 by Pope Adrian, the documented history from thenceforward is Anglocentric and focused on ecclesiastic affairs. So little interest is given to the well-being of the inhabitants and their manner of
