One of the most famous and most romanticised episodes in Irish history is the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, and the death of Brian Boru. For most Irish schoolchildren - at least of this monkey's generation - the battle is painted as the first moment of Irish unity, with a native High King fighting against Scandinavian invaders.

In this useful history video, produced by the history hub, University College Dublin's Dr Elva Johnston explains the context of the battle, answering questions about Brian Boru's life, while stripping away some of the green-tinted myths imposed upon the event by later generations of Irish nationalists.