In 1166 Dermot MacMurrough was forced to flee his kingdom after being defeated by Rury O'Connor, High King of Ireland. Arriving in England, he sought the help of King Henry II, who allowed him to recruit an armed force. MacMurrough returned to Ireland in 1167 with a small force and won back some of his ancestral lands. He was followed in 1169 by the Anglo-Norman force that restored him to his kingdom.

Reference: National Library of Ireland, Expugnatio Hibernica ('The Irish Conquest') by Gerald of Wales (date: completed 1189)
By permission of the Council of Trustees of the National Library of Ireland


King of Leinster Surname may be spelled McMurrough In the 1160's, Dermot MacMurrough, asked King Henry II of England to help him gain control of the country. Henry gave Dermot permission to recruit Norman soldiers in England. Dermot promised to share with the Normans whatever territory he conquered with their aid. He led the Normans on an invasion of eastern Ireland in 1170, but died the following year.

Source: 'The World Book Encyclopedia', 1968, p I336-337.