Giraldus Cambrensis ( Topographia Hibernica]

Giraldus Cambrensis, archdeacon of Brecon in the reign of Henry II., wrote the Topographia Hibernica describing the Irish people in his day, and the conquest by Henry II.Richard de Clare (Strongbow), and other adventurers went to Ireland in 1170 to restore the king of Leinster to his throne. In 1172 Henry II. claimed his own recognition as sovereign. This and the following section describe the Irish people, and the formal submission of the Irish, chiefs, to Henry's supremacy.

The Irish are a rude people, subsisting on the produce of their cattle only, and living themselves like beasts - a people that has not yet departed from the primitive habits of the pastoral life, in the common course of things, mankind progresses from the forest to the field, from the field to the town, and to the social condition of citizens but this nation, holding agricultural labour in contempt, and little coveting the wealth of towns, as well as being exceedingly averse to civil institutions, lead the same life their fathers did in the woods and open pastures, neither willing to abandon their old habits nor to learn anything new. They, therefore, only make patches of tillage their pastures are short of herbage; cultivation is very rare, and there is scarcely any land sown. This want of tilled fields arises from the neglect of those who should cultivate them for there are large tracts which are naturally fertile and productive. The whole habits of the people are contrary to agricultural pursuits, so that the rich glebe is barren for want of husbandmen, the fields demanding labour which is not forthcoming.
Very few sorts of fruit-trees are found in the country, a defect arising not from the nature of the soil, but from want of industry in planting them for the lazy husbandman does not take the trouble to plant the foreign sorts which would grow very well here. There us four kinds of tree indigenous in Britain which are wanting here, Two of them are fruit-bearing trees, the chestnut and beech; the other two, the aralus and the box, though they bear no fruit, are serviceable for making cups and handles. Yews, with their bitter sap, are more frequently to be found in this country than in any other I have visited; but you will see them principally in old cemeteries and sacred places; where they were planted in ancient times by the hands of holy men, to give them what ornament and beauty they could. The forests of Ireland also abound with fir-trees, producing frankincense and incense. There are also veins of various kinds of metals ramifying in the bowels of the earth, which, from the same idle habits, are not worked and turned to account Even gold, which the people require in large quantities and still covet in a way that speaks their Spanish origin, is brought here by the merchants who traverse the ocean for the purpose of commerce. They never employ themselves in the manufacture of flax or wool, or in any kind of trade or mechanical art; but abandoning themselves to idleness, and immersed in sloth, their greatest delight is to be exempt from toil, their richest possession the enjoyment of liberty.
This people, then, is truly barbarous, being riot only barbarous in their dress, but suffering their hair and beards to grow enormously in an uncouth manner, just like the modern fashion recently introduced; indeed, all their habits are barbarisms. But habits are formed by mutual intercourse; and as this people inhabit a country so remote from the rest of the world, and lying at its farthest extremity, forming, as it were, another world, and thus secluded from civilised nations, they learn nothing, and practise nothing but the barbarism in which they are born and bred, and which sticks to them like a second nature. Whatever natural gifts they possess are excellent, in whatever requires industry they are worthless

Conquest of Ireland
Giraldus Cambrensis -

After these occurrences the king, leaving Robert FitzBernard with a garrison at Waterford, moved his army towards Dublin, through Ossory. Making some stay on the road, the chief men of these parts came and swore fealty and allegiance to him, obtaining from the merciful king assurance of peace and favour. Among these were Machelan of Ophelan, MacTalewy, Othwetel, Gillemoholmoch, O'Eadhese, O'Carvel of Uriel, and O'Roric of Meath. But Roderic of Connaught only met the king's messengers, Hugh de Lacy and William Fitz-Aldelm, at the water of Shannon, which divides Meath from Connaught. He also sued for peace, and acknowledging the king of England as his supreme lord, became tributary to him, and bound himself by the most solemn oaths of alliance and fealty. Thus did all the princes of Ireland, except those of Ulster, severally make their submission for themselves; and thus, also, in the person of Roderic, prince of Connaught, and the titular head of the Irish and monarch of the whole island, they all became vassals to the king of England. Indeed, there was scarcely any one of name or rank in the island, who did not, either in person or otherwise, pay to the king's majesty the homage due from a liege-man to his lord.
Then was fulfilled that ancient and well-known prophecy of Merlinus Ambrosius ( I do not vouch for its authenticity ): " The sixth shall overthrow the walls of Ireland "; and another prediction of the same prophet ; " The five portions shall be reduced to one."
The feast of Christmas drawing near, very many of the princes of the land repaired to Dublin to visit the king's court, and were much astonished at the sumptuousness of his entertainment's and the splendour of his household ; and having places assigned to them at the tables in the hall, by the king's command, they learnt to eat cranes which were served up, a food they before loathed. It was at this time that the archers laid violent hands on the trees planted by the hands of the saints in old times round the cemetery at Finglass, and were carried off by a new sort of pestilence, as I have related in my Topography.
The king having now silenced all opposition by his presence, and the island enjoying peace and tranquillity, he was the more inflamed with zeal to advance the honour of the church of God and the Christian religion in those parts, for which purpose he convoked a synod of the clergy of the whole of lreland at Cashel. At this synod enquiry was publicly made into the enormous offences and foul lives of the people of that land; which having been recounted and carefully reduced to writing under the seal of the bishop of Lismore, who, as the Pope's legate presided at the synod ; many godly constitutions, which are yet extant, were made with regard to contracting marriages, the payment of tithes, the reverence due to churches, and the duty of frequenting them. These constitutions the king promulgated, being very desirous of bringing the church of Ireland in all respects into conformity with the English church.