They first landed on the Island around 800 AD as raiders. Its location provided an excellent strategic position from which they could dominate the Irish Sea and execute their military campaigns in the area.
However, this was not the only reason, the island also proved to be alluring due to its established Christian community. Around 450 AD, Irish missionaries, sent by St Patrick, settled on the island to spread the word of Christ. This Christian community not only grew in numbers but also in terms of wealth with the passing years. Therefore, the raids undertaken by the Vikings were not an attack on the Christian faith but rather on the monasteries themselves, as they were, by and large, both wealthy and poorly defended.
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