Nenagh ancestor appears in Strongbow novel

The ancestor of one of Tipperary's oldest families appears in a new novel about the Norman invader Strongbow.

Hugh Cantwell - the progenitor of the family who settled at Dromineer Castle in the late thirteenth century - is a character in Ruadh Butler's new historical fiction book, 'The Earl Strongbow'.

“Cantwell is just one of a number of Irish surnames which appear for the first time in Strongbow's entourage in 1170,” said the Tyrone author. “Like most of them, Hugh was probably a desperate and footloose knight with nothing to lose and much to gain by throwing his lot in with Strongbow. In the book, he and his brother climb the walls of Viking Waterford in the hope that their skill in war can win them lands of their own.”

And Hugh's exploits would eventually see him win renown and estates in Tipperary. His descendants would be found in the vicinity of Nenagh by 1200 and at Dromineer by 1299. They would remain lords there until the Cromwellian period.

In 'The Earl Strongbow', Ruadh tells the high-stakes story of how Strongbow came to Ireland and dispels many of the myths surrounding that fateful event.

“I think the modern impression of Strongbow is one of an intimidating warrior at the head of a vast army of well-to-do knights, superior to all that stood against them,” said Ruadh. “There remains a feeling that it was inevitable that the Normans would conquer Ireland. The historic sources paint a much different story.”

Ruadh's book has already garnered praise from some of the best authors working in historical fiction. “This lyrical novel is rich in history and evokes a wonderful sense of time and place,” according to acclaimed author of 'The Master of War' series, David Gilman. “Great characters, strident battles and a story to be savoured.”

'The Earl Strongbow' is published by Accent Press and is available in all formats at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Waterstone’s, Eason’s, Blackwell’s, Foyle’s and WHSmith.

NEW NOVEL PITS VIKINGS AND NORMANS IN SHOWDOWN FOR IRELAND’S FUTURE
The clash of warring Vikings and Normans at Waterford is the backdrop to a new historical fiction adventure novel by historical fiction writer Ruadh Butler.

The Earl Strongbow tells the story of the Siege of Waterford in August 1170 when the Norman lord, Sir Richard de Clare, better remembered to history as Strongbow, landed his army in Ireland with the aim of conquest.

“I think the modern impression of Strongbow is one of an intimidating warrior at the head of a vast army of well-to-do knights, superior to all that stood against them,” said the Tyrone author. “There remains a feeling that it was inevitable that the Normans would conquer Ireland.

“The historic sources paint a much different story. They show that the result was balanced on a knife edge for a very long time and might’ve taken a much different path if not for several key outcomes going in the Normans’ favour.
“One of those moments was the Siege of Waterford.”

In the lead-up to the siege, Strongbow had sent a small advance party to Ireland under Raymond de Carew – better known in his lifetime as Raymond the Fat. His 120 mercenaries had defeated a Viking army of between 2,000 and 4,000 at the Battle of Baginbun, a story told in Ruadh’s second book, Lord of the Sea Castle.

This was also a close run thing with the upshot being Strongbow’s crossing of the Irish Sea with the rest of his men: failed knights, rebel Welsh archers, distrusted Flemish mercenaries, a real hodge-podge of desperate and uncontrollable men who were considered to be no better than brigands in their own land.

“The name Strongbow conjures an image of a formidable soldier, but he was not known by that nickname until several hundred years after his death. We’ll never know the truth, but the famous chronicler Gerald of Wales depicts him as a rather gangly, effeminate and softly-spoken man with ginger hair and freckles who had ‘more of the air of a man-at-arms than a general-in-chief’.

“He was also desperately close to financial ruin and had used up every last penny available to raise his army of invasion. One defeat and it would’ve likely been curtains for the Norman adventure in Ireland. And he really stretched his luck to breaking point at Waterford in the summer of 1170.
“The prize for winning at Waterford was impressive. Not only would Strongbow have lordship over a wealthy trading town, but he had also been promised the hand of an Irish princess and through her a claim to the crown of Leinster. Defeat, on the other hand, would mean economic ruin, the end to all his ambitions, and might’ve led to Strongbow’s own death.

“The stakes could not have been higher, the odds of victory more keenly balanced. Lucky for Strongbow then that he had one of the greatest warriors of the age at his side: Raymond the Fat. The two would continue to fight in Leinster and into Munster for the remainder of their lives."
The book has already garnered praise from some of the best authors working in historical fiction.

“This lyrical novel is rich in history and evokes a wonderful sense of time and place. Great characters, strident battles and a story to be savoured,” said acclaimed author of The Master of War series, David Gilman.

Irish writer of The Fifth Knight series, E.M. Powell, said: “It’s not just the grim gore of the Anglo-Norman battlefield that springs to life in Butler’s skilful telling. Even better, he finds his way into the minds and spirits of those men for whom the ultimate prize was a nation.”

The Earl Strongbow is published by Accent Press and is available in all formats at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Waterstone’s, Eason’s, Blackwell’s, Foyle’s and WHSmith.