Today Marks the Anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf
"He [Brian Boru] hanged and killed and destroyed the robbers, thieves and plunderers of Ireland. After the banishment of the foreigners from all Ireland, and after Ireland was reduced to a state peace, a lone woman could come from Tory in the North to Cliodhna in the South carrying gold, and would be neither robbed nor insulted. By him were erected the noble churches of Ireland. He sent professors and masters to teach wisdom and bring books from beyond the sea."
From "Cogad Gáedel Re Gallaib" (War of the Irish with the Foreigners),12th century