Aoife MacMurrough and the Page of Wands

Detail from 'The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife', c.1854. Daniel Maclise (1806-1870).

Born into the stormy political and cultural tides of 12th-century Ireland, Aoife MacMurrough (1145–1188) was the daughter of Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster. Known to history as the “Queen of Normans and Gaels,” Aoife refused to conform to the expectations of her time; instead carving a life for herself that blended fierce independence, creative passion, and strategic brilliance.

Aoife was born in Ferns, County Wexford, to a world steeped in conflict. Her father’s controversial reign as King of Leinster was marked by fierce rivalries, raids, and shifting alliances. Yet, amid this turbulence, Aoife grew up immersed in the rich oral traditions and poetic arts of Gaelic Ireland.

As a child, she learned from the poets and bards who visited her father’s court, mastering the complex rhythms of Irish verse. Unlike many noblewomen of her time, she insisted on learning the skills of swordplay and horseback riding, which her father grudgingly allowed.

Aoife’s life took a dramatic turn when her father sought the help of Norman knights to reclaim his kingdom after being exiled by rivals. In 1170, at the age of 25, she was married to the Norman leader Richard de Clare (Strongbow) as part of a political alliance. At her wedding, legend says she insisted on wielding a ceremonial sword alongside her new husband, symbolising her equal role in the alliance.

Aoife played the role of a political bridge between the Normans and Gaels, and never lost her deep connection to her Irish roots. Fluent in both Norman French and Gaelic, she became a mediator and cultural translator, bringing together two vastly different worlds. She advocated for the preservation of Gaelic traditions, even as Norman influences spread across Ireland.

Her creativity and love for the arts remained central to her life. Aoife is said to have patronised poets, musicians, and illuminators, commissioning works that blended Norman and Irish styles. She herself composed poems, one surviving fragment attributed to her describes the wind sweeping across the Wicklow Mountains, likening it to the untamed spirit of Ireland itself.

After Strongbow’s death in 1176, Aoife emerged as a formidable leader in her own right. She managed the expansive lands inherited from her husband, making shrewd political decisions to protect her children’s inheritance while also supporting the Irish clans who remained loyal to her. Her resilience in a male-dominated world earned her respect among both the Normans and the Gaels.

Aoife was known to defy conventions in small but significant ways. She wore her hair loose during council meetings, a symbol of freedom and defiance. She rode unescorted across her lands, speaking directly to her tenants and warriors. These acts, though seemingly simple, were revolutionary in a time when women were expected to remain in the shadows.

Aoife MacMurrough died in 1188, but her legacy endures as a symbol of strength, creativity, and independence. While history often remembers her as the woman who brought the Normans to Ireland, those who look closer see a far more complex figure: a poet-queen, a cultural bridge, and a free spirit who refused to be constrained by the expectations of her time.

In the centuries since her death, Aoife has become an icon of Irish resilience and creativity. Stories of her life inspire artists, writers, and dreamers who see in her the eternal struggle for identity and the triumph of the human spirit.

The Page of Wands

In the Tarot, the Page of Wands symbolises youthful energy, curiosity, and the courage to embark on new chapters fuelled by passion and vision. This card often represents a free spirit, someone who defies convention to chase their dreams, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

The wand in Tarot represents fire, passion, and creativity — a perfect match for Aoife’s character. Just as the Page of Wands holds their staff with curiosity and determination, Aoife held her position in life with a similar energy. She embraced her role as a bridge between the Gaels and Normans not as a passive participant but as an active force of transformation. Her actions ignited cultural exchanges, bringing new opportunities and challenges to Ireland, much like the spark of a wand’s flame creating a new beginning.

Aoife’s marriage to Strongbow, while politically motivated, was not the end of her free spirit — it was a new chapter. Like the Page of Wands standing at the edge of an unexplored landscape, Aoife faced an unknown future but met it with the daring confidence that came from her deep sense of identity and purpose. She became a mediator of cultures, a patron of the arts, and a leader in her own right, lighting the way for others to follow.

Just as the Page of Wands dares to dream of new horizons, Aoife dared to imagine a future where her heritage and the foreign Norman influences could coexist, sparking a unique cultural fusion. Her ability to see possibility in the unknown — a hallmark of the Page of Wands — defined her legacy.

When the Page of Wands appears in a Tarot reading, it often serves as a call to embrace curiosity, passion, and the willingness to take risks. Aoife’s story carries the same message. Her life reminds us that the path of a free spirit may not be easy, but it is always rewarding. She teaches us to channel our creative fire, take bold steps forward, and find strength in the untamed parts of ourselves.

For those drawn to the energy of the Page of Wands, Aoife MacMurrough stands as an enduring symbol of what it means to live boldly and authentically. Like the figure in the Tarot card, she holds a wand of possibility, inspiring us to embrace new adventures with courage and passion.

Sources

• Hegarty, Neil (2011). Story of Ireland: In Search of a New National Memory. Random House.

• Igoe, Brian (2012). The Story of Ireland. Smashwords. ISBN 978-1-301-36210-3.

• O Croinin, Daibhi (1995). Early Medieval Ireland 400–1200. London: Longman Press.