The battle of Clontarf was an important victory for the Irish against the Normans however it was far from decisive. Attacks continued on monasteries and in particular those accessible by water such as Clonmacnoise. The annals record that Clonmacnoise was attacked many times in 1179 when there were several raids by the Anglo-Norman Lords. They plundered valuables and cattle and burnt 105 houses. In 1205, led by William de Burgh, they almost completely destroyed Clonmacnoise. Most of the castles that can be seen in Ireland today date to this period. The Normans built them as strongholds where they could maintain control of an area. Seeing Clonmacnoise as a powerful control in the midlands they built a castle beside the monastery in 1214. After this time the monastery comes strongly under Anglo-Norman influence. With it's monoply on the people gone and the system of high kings destroyed the monasteries begin to lose their political power and wealth. From this point onwards Clonmacnoise is never a stronghold of monastic power again. Few records of events in Clonmacnoise between 1200 and 1500 survive today