800 years ago

(NB: If you're reading this on Facebook, the original post is from my blog) So here we are, another momentous agreement. But sadly the "hand of history" was missing, I hoped he/she might have showed up, as he/she would have had a story to tell. Because exactly 800 years ago King John arrived in Ireland. He had been here back in 1185, but this was his first visit as King. He arrived at Waterford on 20 June 1210 and while he was here spent a fair bit of time at Carrickfergus. During the visit, John granted land at Larne and Glenarm to a Scottish "ruler of greater Galloway, Duncan of Carrick". Here's an excellent article on the subject.

So in 1210 there was a big historic event (after which, in 1215, King John issued the Magna Carta); then 400 years later in 1610 along came another one in the form of the official Plantation of Ulster - and now, another 400 years later in 2010 there are yet more big things happening.

Now that the deal's been done, maybe the papers and airwaves will find something different to talk about.