A History of the Gallowglass in Ireland

The Gallowglass derive their name from the Gaelic, Gall Gaeil which means 'foreign Gaels'. They had been a mercenary warrior elite that originated amongst Gaelic-Norse clans residing in the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland. They served Irish lords from as early as 1259. By 1512 there had been reported to be about sixty groups operating all through the nation below the manage of the Irish nobility.

Initially they had been mercenaries but more than time they settled and their ranks have been filled by the native Irish. Their preferred weapons had been the two handed Sparth axe and the claymore broadsword. For amour, they wore chain mail shirts more than padded jackets and iron helmets. A gallowglass was ordinarily accompanied by two squires who carried his spears and provisions. They started to arrive in Ireland in considerable numbers to bolster the resistance of the Irish lordships against the Anglo-Norman invasion.

In Spring they would plough their fields, plant their seeds then collect their arms and armour and sail to Ireland to give their solutions to the highest bidder. When the summer season season of fighting was more than, they would gather their earnings and return to Scotland to harvest their crops. In time, they started to safe lands for their solutions. Through the escalation in military conflict of the sixteenth century, the gallowglass had been joined by native Irish mercenaries identified as Bunadha and a new breed of Scottish mercenary named Redshanks. In spite of the raise in the use of firearms, Gallowglasses remained in demand properly into the seventeenth century. Their clan names endure to this day in Ireland, prominent ones involve: Gallogly, MacCabe, MacDonnnell, McDonald, MacDowell, MacRory, Sheehy and MacSweeney.

Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the major specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland.

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