King Henry II of England sent his son Prince John across the Irish Sea as Lord of Ireland to claim authority over the Gaelic and Norman Lords.
Gerard of Wales said that “upon seeing these strange long bearded Kings, John and his retinue laughed and pulled them about by their beards”. The Irish kings complained about “how John was “an ill-mannered child… from whom no good could be hoped”.
John’s time in Ireland was not seen favourably by most. He left in December having run out of money and most likely because of the powerful Hugh de Lacy.
The Irish at War 