A Viking High King of Ireland

How do we get one. My most likely canidate is Thorgast in the 840's (And I like the touch about him declaring himself Abbot of Armagh and collecting the rents).

Any other ideas or sense how it might come about.
 
No idea but almost anyone who's anyone in Britain will be shitting their pants when they hear the news.
 
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How about Olaf Guthfrithson of the Ui' Imair or even Inar himself (who may have been Ivar the Boneless)?

In the later case, Imar was invovled in a set of conflicts with the ruler of the Southern Ui' Neil - the traditional holders of the High Kingship.
 
How about Olaf Guthfrithson of the Ui' Imair or even Inar himself (who may have been Ivar the Boneless)?

In the later case, Imar was invovled in a set of conflicts with the ruler of the Southern Ui' Neil - the traditional holders of the High Kingship.

Both are good choices, though my choice ideal is the 800s, because as Some Bloke put it, a Norse/Irish conquest of England would be nice. Turgesius/Thorgest is my favorite choice.

What were the conditions to be put forward as High King? Could any king in Eire be eligible?

It was essentially if you could claim it and hold it, it was yours. Yet every one seemed to be native Irish.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_King_of_Ireland
 
Both are good choices, though my choice ideal is the 800s, because as Some Bloke put it, a Norse/Irish conquest of England would be nice. Turgesius/Thorgest is my favorite choice.

Well Imar was in the 800s; his reign started in 857 to be exact. I'm not sure its really possible to get too much further back then that - the Kingdom of Dublin itself was established around this same time, and that marks the time when the Norse really came to settle in Ireland. Prior to that time, most Norse interactions with the island were going to be raiding parties and traders; there would have been some small communities forming, but nothing too substantial. If you are going to get a Norse Ard Ri, they are going to need a base of support, and I'm not sure you can really do that prior to the 850s or so.

As as for the bit about a Finngall or Dubhgall Irish ruler who invades England ... There is a good likelyhood that Imar was part of the Great Heathen Army and would have been Ivar the Boneless. So, he came pretty close to doing that anyway :D Probably your best bet
 
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