Jews in Ireland

[Mac Seafraidh]

The earliest reference to the Jews in Ireland was in the year 1079. The Annals of Inisfallen record "Five Jews came from over sea with gifts to Tairdelbach [king of Munster], and they were sent back again over sea." They were probably merchants from Normandy – http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G100004/.

No further reference is found until nearly a century later, in the reign of Henry II of England. That monarch, fearful lest an independent kingdom should be established in Ireland, prohibited a proposed expedition there. Strongbow, however, went in defiance of the king's orders; and, as a result, his estates were confiscated. In his venture Strongbow seems to have been assisted financially by a Jew; for under the date of 1170 the following record occurs: "Josce Jew of Gloucester owes 100 shillings for an amerciament for the moneys which he lent to those who against the king's prohibition went over to Ireland." (Jacobs, "Jews of Angevin England," p. 51).

http://jewishmuseum.ie/jews-in-ireland/