Page "Kingdom of the Isles" Paragraph 23

Prior to the Viking incursions the southern Hebrides formed part of the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata ( or Dalriada ).

North of Dál Riata the Inner and Outer Hebrides were nominally under Pictish control although the historical record is sparse.

According to Ó Corráin ( 1998 ) " when and how the Vikings conquered and occupied the Isles is unknown, perhaps unknowable ", although from 793 onwards repeated raids by Vikings on the British Isles are recorded.

" All the islands of Britain " were devastated in 794 with Iona being sacked in 802 and 806.

Various named Viking leaders, who were probably based in Scotland, appear in the Irish annals: Soxulfr in 837, Turges in 845 and Hákon in 847.

Another early reference to the Norse presence in the Irish records is that there was a king of " Viking Scotland " whose heir, Thórir, took an army to Ireland in 848.