The Burning of Luimnech was the looting and destruction of the Viking stronghold of Limerick by the rising Dal gCais tribe of Munster. The Dal gCais were led by the two warrior brothers, Brian Boru and Mathgamain mac Cennetig while the Vikings had no type of official leadership. The king of the Vikings, Ivar of Limerick, and his troops had scattered into the woods of Tipperary a few hours before after a crushing defeat at the Battle of Sulcoit. In the Dal gCais' leader's notes he quoted, "The entire city was reduced to smoke and ash. Any man fit for war was killed and the rest were enslaved".