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THE VIKINGS AND THE CELTIC CHURCH 53
that Sihtric Gale, Gothfrith’s brother (or cousin) was also
a Christian, since he formed a friendly alliance with Aethel-
stan, who gave him his sister in marriage.
1
In 943 Olaf
Cuaran was baptized, and in the same year Rognvaldr,
another Norse prince, was confirmed. 2
After the battle
of Tara (980) Olaf went on pilgrimage to lona, where he
died
"
after penance and a good life." 3
His daughter and
grandson were called by distinctively Irish Christian names
Maelmuire 4
(servant of Mary), and Gilla Ciarain 8
(servant
of St. Ciaran). We may also note the name Gilla-Padraig
which occurs in the royal family of Waterford6
and the
half-Irish name of a priest in Clonmacnois, Connmhach
Ua Tomrair, who must have been of Norse extrac-
tion. 7
But all traces of heathenism in Ireland had not disappeared
by the end of the tenth century. An interesting relic was
Thor’s ring (Ir. fail Tomhair) which was carried off from
Dublin by King Maelsechnaill II. in 994.* This must have
been the dom-hringr, so frequently alluded to in Icelandic
literature. It was a ring of silver or gold, about twenty
ounces in weight, which lay upon an altar in the temple,
except during ceremonies, when it was worn on the priest’s
arm. 9
Upon this ring oaths were usually sworn. 10 That it
was connected with the worship of Thor is clear from a
passage in the Landndmabdk describing a place called
1
Anglo- Saxon Chronicle, MS.D., A.D. 925.
*/&., MSS. A., 942, D. 943.
3
Annals of the Four Masters, A.D. 979.
4
Ib., A.D. 1021.
*War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill, p. 207.
6
Annals of the Four Masters, A.D. 982.’
Ib., A.D. IOII.
8
Ib., A.D. 994.
9
Kyrbyggja Saga, chs. 4 and 10 ; Kjalnesinga Saga, ch. 2; eta.
10 Cf. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, MS.A. Annal, A.D. 876, Kjalnesinga
Saga, ch. 2 ; etc.
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