Carrick-on-Suir began life as Carrig Mac Griffin when the grant of 3 fairs per year was given to Matthew Fitzgriffin, Lord of the Manor of Carrick. The history of the town starts before the year 823 AD, when Turgesius, a Norse leader, began to build forts at the mouths of the rivers when they came on invasions and, instead of sailing off with their treasure, they settled into these forts and later built walled settlements.