Burning of Luimnech | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Kingdom of Limerick | Dalcassians | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
(unknown) |
Brian Boru Mahon | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
very few | 300 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
all either captured or killed | none |
The Burning of Luimneach was the looting and destruction of the Viking stronghold of Limerick (Luimneach) by the Irish Dál gCais tribe of Munster.[1] The Dál gCais were led by the two warrior brothers, Brian Boru and Mathgamain mac Cennétig while the Vikings had no type of official leadership. The king of the Vikings, Ivar of Limerick, and his troops had scattered into the woods of Tipperary a few hours before after a crushing defeat at the Battle of Sulcoit. In the Dál gCais' leader's notes he quoted, "The entire city was reduced to smoke and ash. Any man fit for war was killed and the rest were enslaved".[This quote needs a citation]