Following the wanderings of Diarmuid and his secretary, Muiris Ó throughout the lands of Henry, - first to gain the favour, and second, to gather troops for his campaign to regain his kingdom – the first of the “Grey Foreigners” did arrive at Bannow Bay in 1169.

She be calm today, the most dangerous of waters.
Expanses of water as the eye can see.
Beyond its borders is where I’ll gain my victory
And salvage my crown, Laighin be for me.

Though my kingdom be ruined, my family be strong.
Time shall pass. Tighernán will be gone.
With the grey foreigner under my rule
‘Twill be Ruaidhrí our glorious king who will be made of fool.

Upstarts from Connacht his family be
Thinking ruler of that bog could one day be Ardrigh.
His mead must have been made much stronger than normal
If he felt he could become warmonger.

A wind slowly starts to rise from the east.
I can feel the salt sting my face, the time be near.
It will not be long ‘till they be here.
Our allies will help us to crush the pretender king.

A blackbird perched atop of the sun
Blinded by the darkness of Adrian’s Bull.
Spewing across the sea from his homeland
As the threat of his own kin does finnaly fall at the feet of the devils grey.

Dawn did break,
As did he bows of their ships – the water.
With their armour and helm – glittering in the sunrise
At the mouth of the bay known as Bannow.

The first of Bealtaine 1169, a date destined to strike fear and loathing
In the hearts of the Irish for near a millenium
As the sails were lowered.

While oar and the strength of man did the ships propel up to battle and bloodshed.
Victory… and the rise of the Grey
Beyond the mouth of the bay known as Bannow.

With a hastely gathered five hundred men did Diarmuid Mac Murchadha heal south.
While still more foreigners Grey under De Prendergast’s banner did land at Bannow.

And so to the Veisafjord did the warriors go Norman, Fleming, Welsh and Irish
To besiege the town of the Dubhghall
And teach the Norse a lesson in soldiery.