Longphort

A longphort is a term used in Ireland for a Viking ship enclosure or shore fortress. Longphorts were originally built to serve as camps for the raiding parties in Ireland during the AD 830s. These camps were fortified areas along rivers, usually at a tributary where both sides were protected such that the Vikings could port ships. The sites were easily defended, sheltered, and gave immediate access to the sea. These camps would be of great importantance to the Vikings during their raids of Ireland, which included attacks on many churches and monasteries located on the coast of Ireland. The longphort was essential in establishing the presence of the Vikings during these attacks which could last for an extended period of time.

The word was first used in the 840s in the Irish annals with the establishment of Viking encampments at Linn Duachaill and Dublin. It also describes new Viking settlements established at Waterford in 914 and Limerick in 922 possibly by the Uí Ímair. Many camps along river banks and lakes did not last long, but others as such as Dublin developed into large towns, as did the other significant Hiberno-Norse settlements at Cork, Waterford, Wexford and Limerick.

This compound word was likely coined by Irish monks from the Latin word "longus" (long) reflecting the Old Norse "lang" (long), thus implying "lang skip" (long ship); plus the Latin "portus", meaning port, harbour. There are many towns and townlands in Ireland whose names bear some element of Longphort in them. This may suggest that at some point in history there may have been a longphort situated there, as is attested in some examples.