Olaf of the Shoes

 

One of the most famous of the Viking roving kings was Olaf Curran, ‘Olaf of the Shoes’.  He was very fond of leather goods of the highest quality. Beautifully tanned Irish leathers were an important part of Dublin’s export business. A Christian, he was at one time King of both Dublin and Northumbria. He was twice expelled from Northumbria and lost Dublin in 980 at the Battle of Tara. He died a penitent at the monastery of Iona in 981.