Harold's son was killed in battle, but Harold escaped to Iceland, where he married again in 1044. His heir, Thorfinn, was an infant at the time, and so Harold took his chance and claimed Sodor and Man, ruling for twenty years before Thorfinn drove him out. Sigurd fell at the battle of Clontarf in Ireland in 1014. Godred and his two elder sons were killed in battle in Man, but his wife, daughter Gudrun and youngest son Harold escaped to Islay. Sigurd was not captured during either of the battles and returned five years later.

Godred often fought off attempts by Earl Sigurd of Orkney to reclaim Man in 982 and Sodor in 984 at a ford near what is now Peel Godred (named after him), which has now been replaced by a bridge known as King Orry's Bridge. In Sodor, he is remembered affectionately as King Orry. That is my road to fame and fortune.' Godred gave Sodor and Man ten years of peace, and his reign is remembered as a golden age. There, he pointed to the stars reflected in the water and said to the locals 'There is the path running from my country to this place. Seizing his chance after the defeat of the Norse at the hands of the Irish, he harried Wales, then landed on Man. Godred MacHarold (known in legend as King Orry or Starstrider), the younger son of Harold, the Danish king of Limerick, was King of Sodor and Man from 979 to 989. Machan has since been named the patron saint of Sodor. People came from far around to be baptised in the nearby lake, named Loey Machan, or 'Machan's Lake' in his honour. Machan, settled in a cave near Culdee Fell, in the north. The island was Christianised by men of the 'Iona School', who arrived on Sodor at different times during the sixth century and settled in the south. Suddery later became the ancient capital of Sodor. He is remembered in the cityвЂ™s motto and coat of arms, the latter of which shows him as a bishop, standing in a coracle holding a crosier. He preached to the locals, and a church, nowadays known as Suddery Cathedral, was built on the site. The locals treated him well and he built a 'keeill'. He and some companions set out for Man in coracles, but Luoc fell asleep, was blown off course, and ended up on the shore in Suddery bay. The inhabitants gave no trouble after that and were left alone.ДЄn Irish missionary named LuocВ proved to be more successful. They saw it from their camp at Lancaster and made a landing at what is now Ballahoo, but were driven off. Its size makes it appear difficult, but the combination of subtle humour and lightness of touch makes up for this. The standard history of Sodor is Canon Nicholas Dreswick's 'History of Sodor', written in four volumes (Chatter and Windows, Suddery, 1899-1912). Many travelling to Douglas or Belfast embark there rather than at Liverpool or Fleetwood. Tidmouth now contributes to the country's revenues by being an excellent port, owned by the North Western Railway. As this process requires a huge amount of electricity, a hydroelectric power station was opened nearby in 1923. Bauxite is mined at Peel Godred by the British Aluminium Company. The native language, Sudric, is dying out, but the rugged and beautiful scenery and the fishing, particularly in the mountain lakes, attract holidaymakers from all parts. Sodor has a coal mine sufficient for its needs including for its railways. Lead, zinc and silver are mined, and the island stone has excellent weather-resistant properties. Fishing is important too the Tidmouth kipper is a prized dish at breakfasts far and wide. Oats, barley, and turnips are major crops. About half of the island is agricultural.

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