The Battle of Clontarf happened more than 1,000 years ago in Ireland. Here is a handy top ten primer on Brian Boru, the heroic Irish figure of his era. 1. Brian Boru was a deeply Christian king.

Hundreds of people have taken part in charity Christmas swims across Ireland. In Dublin, swimmers braved the cold water on an otherwise mild morning in Clontarf, where a picturesque sunrise ...