On May 1, 1169, the first Norman forces landed at Bannow Bay, County Wexford, marking the commencement of the Norman invasion of Ireland. This advance party, led by Robert FitzStephen, consisted of approximately 30 knights and 60 men-at-arms. Their arrival was at the invitation of Diarmait Mac Murchada, the exiled King of Leinster. This pivotal event initiated centuries of Norman and English involvement in Ireland, profoundly shaping its history and cultural landscape.
