In May 1169, a small force of Norman knights, led by Robert FitzStephen and Maurice de Prendergast, landed at Bannow Bay in County Wexford at the invitation of the deposed King of Leinster, Diarmait Mac Murchada. This landing marked the beginning of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, which would fundamentally transform the island's political and social landscape. The Normans quickly captured Wexford and Waterford, establishing a foothold that would expand into a centuries-long English presence in Ireland.

The Norman invasion became a foundational event in Irish historical poetry, with bards lamenting the arrival of the foreigner and the beginning of Gaelic decline. The invasion is referenced in the 'Caithréim Thoirdhealbhaigh' and other medieval Irish sagas that chronicle the resistance of native chieftains. The event's legacy of conquest and cultural disruption would echo through Irish poetry for centuries, providing a backdrop for themes of loss and resistance.