 In fact, there is reason to suspect that the English had struck a deal with a Scandinavian army seated in England, and thereafter directed one part of this force to engage the Cumbrians and another to attack the Normans.An Irish contemporary of Owain was Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, High King of Ireland.In 1006, he mustered a massive force in southern Ireland and marched throughout the north of the island in a remarkable show of force.