the history of the royal galloglas

8/6/2019 The History of the Royal Galloglas

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The Wapenshaw

by Guy Sheldon

The Galloglaich ("Galloglas") were Scottish mercenaries inIreland, forming the backbone of the Irish armies from the late1200s through the early 1600s. They were drawn from the bestfighters in the Hebrides, mostly MacDonalds but also including theMacRorys, MacSwineys (or MacSweeneys), MacSheehys,MacDowells, and MacCabes. The word galloglaich means "foreignyoung warrior", and refers not only to the fact that they were fromoutside Ireland, but that they were of mixed Scottish-Viking stock,the result of many centuries of Viking raids on the Western Islesand Scotland's western coast.

During this time period, the Anglo-Normans (the "English" or, tous Scots, the "Sassenachs") were constantly invading Ireland,trying to take it over as they had Britain, and the Irish were havinga hard time fighting them off. The English had many heavilyarmored, mounted knights; their charge, with lances couched,could usually break up the lightly armored Irish troops. They werealso better equipped for, and more experienced with, longcampaigns and large set-piece battles, where the Irish were moreused to short, small-scale clan conflicts.

The Scots had experience in dealing with the mounted Englishknights, and the heavily armed and armored galloglaich put thatexperience to good use, which is why they were so valuable to theIrish. While the average Irish warrior wore only padded or leather

armor, the galloglaich were well-armored with a hauberk (mailcoat) and helmet. Their favored weapon was a large axe, about sixfeet long, variously described by foreign observers as a halberd orbardiche, but generally what we now call a sparth axe; it had along, narrow, curved blade about 18" long, attached by its centerand bottom to the pole. Other designs have also been illustrated, ofcourse, but it was the sparth axe for which they were famous.Otherwise, they carried a sgian (knife, not unlike a ballock daggeror dirk), and as time went on they adopted various Irish-styledswords, some as large as claymores. With their axes, they couldbreak a knight's lance, or bring down rider and horse. They werenoted for their courage and fierceness in battle; they were placed inthe van (lead, front and center) of the Irish armies, with the lighterarmed Irish footmen and cavalry guarding their flanks. In typical

Royal Galloglas(An Gallglaigh na Rtheaghlach)

An Roga GallglaighIreland before the Galloglas

The first record of the arrival of Galloglas mercenaries is in 1259 AD(1).Ireland was not one nation but a geographic location of five Gaelic kingdoms;(Chonnacht, Laighean, Uladh agus a d Mhumhain - Deasn or DesmumuTirmn or Tuadmumu ). Thus in Gaelige the word for 5 is "cig" and the termgiven in modern Gaelige for province is "cige". U Nill. In contemporaryIrish history books much is made of the position of "Ard-r na h'ireann" orHigh King of Ireland. No such title or concept exists in Brehon Law(2).Brehon Law can rightly claim to be the oldest surviving codified legal systemin Europe. They are the ancient laws of Ireland, named from breitheamh(3). The concept of a High-kingship firstemerged in the 7-9th century espoused by The U Nill. From 123AD till this time Ireland was divided into 2 spheresof influence and control(4) - Leth Cuinn, the northern half under The U Nill, and Leth Moga the southern half underthe Eghanachta.

The U Nill's half contained the kingdom ofTara, and U Nill variably described himselfas "An R na tU-Nill" - king of the U 'Nill'sor "An R na Teamhair" - king of Tara. The UNill had been kings at Tara, but had pushednorth and by conquest seized the lands that arenow Tyrone and Donegal. Both halvescontained many under-kings giving allegianceto either U Nill or The Eghanachtdepending on where their territories lay. By hisdeath in 980 AD we find Domnall, an U Nillbeing described as "High-King of Ireland" inhis obituary in the Annals of Ulster. Brehon

Law recognised only a King who was "An Rbunaidh cach cinn"- the king who makesfundamental decisions over all people as themost superior. The ruler of the Eghanacht wassuch a king, and the Eghanacht did notsubscribe or submit to The U Nill's illusionof themselves as rulers over all of Ireland. Theterm Ireland or ire came from the Greek term"Ierne". Greek traders had encountered therainn people in what is now called Kerry andCork. A Phoenician trading colony wasestablished from ancient times at Great Island,Cork (now Cbh) by Niemheidh, and in the"Annals of the Four Masters" Great Island iscalled "Oilen-Ardaneimheidh"(5). Indeed theremains of a Phoenician cemetery wasuncovered on Great Island. Ptolemy, anAlexandrian Greek writing in 100 AD, speaksof the rainn as the Iverni. The Romans namedIreland - "Ivernia" or "Hibernia" again aftertrading contacts with the irainn people ofMunster. From the foreigners' perceptions thisisland became rainn-land, corrupted toIreland or in Gaelige "riu" then finally"irinn" or "rin". By the 7th century therainn had been eclipsed by the powerfulfederation of dynasties called the Eghanachta

after their founder ghan Caomh (gentle) orEghan Mr (great), eldest son of Olioll Olum,

The History of the Royal Galloglas http://home.earthlink.net/~rggsibiba/html/galloglas/gallohist.html

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Celtic fashion, they would close quickly with their opponents in aferocious and violent attack; they would either win quickly or diein the attempt. The English quickly learned to fear the galloglaich.

The galloglaich were well-paid for their efforts. In a society thatvalued cattle as wealth, they received 3 cattle per quarter-year, aswell as all the grain and butter they needed. A consapal (captain)

was paid even more, of course, and many became quite wealthy,owning large tracts of land. They were also fairly independent, andthe MacDonalds had territory in the Glens of Antrim, where theywere independent of both the Irish and the English. There, theymaintained a continual military presence for several centuries.They got their start in 1259, when Aed O'Connor married aMacDonald princess; she was accompanied to Ireland by 160MacDonald warriors. In addition to the battles against the English,they took part in many clan squabbles as well, sometimes on bothsides. Their prominence lasted well into the 1500s, when Englandstarted another massive push into Ireland. During this time, thegalloglaich were joined by more Scottish warriors, again mostlyHebridean, and called by the English "Redshanks" (a name that

had been applied by the English to the Scots for quite some time,alluding to the Scots' practice of going bare-legged and barefoot).These new warriors carried claymores, and some had firearms.This signaled a change in the styles of warfare to which thegalloglaich had become accustomed; they continued to do well fora time, but by the late 1500s, they had become an anachronism.Pike formations protected by musketeers could blunt their charges,and were less vulnerable that mounted knights. Cannons andmusket fire could carve through their ranks before they closed forhand-to-hand combat. They enjoyed amazing success in campaignsfrom 1595 through 1600, but their last appearance was at the battleof Kinsdale in 1601, where they were decimated by the English ina pitched battle.

While they were an anachronism at the end, and were ultimatelydefeated, the galloglaich played a huge role in preserving anotherpart of Gaelic culture against the English for several centurieslonger than might have happened without them. And by distractingthe English with the Irish, they probably kept them out of theScottish Highlands for a time, allowing that culture to survive also,and keeping our heritage richer than it otherwise might have been.

REFERENCES:

McCain, Barry Reid, 'The Galloglaich', "The Highlander", January-February1994, Angus J. Ray Associates, Inc. Barrington, IL, USA, 1994.

Newark, Tim, Celtic Warriors, Blandford Press, Poole, Dorset, GB, 1986.

Dunbar, John Telfer, The Costume of Scotland, B. T. Batsford Ltd, London,GB, 1981.

King of Munster(6). The capital of theEghanachta was at Cashel (Caisil) from 4thcentury, in the centre of their kingdom. Cashelderives from the Latin "castellum," a fortifiedplace or castle. Warfare continued periodicallybetween the Gaelic kings, underkings and lordsin the following centuries, mostly over land

title and cattle raiding.However, during the period Europe describesas the dark ages (due to the ravages of Huns,Goths, Visigoths and the general mayhem thatfollowed the collapse of the Roman Empire),Ireland enjoyed a time of prosperity, withadvances in culture, learning and constructionthat is called the Golden Age. This led to Irishmissionaries from the distinctive Celtic churchof Byzantium tradition evangelising in Wales(Cymru), Briton (Albain), Scotland (Alba),Cornwall (Kernow), Britanny (Breizh) and asfar out in Europe as Kiev by the early 12th

century in modern Ukraine (by theEghanachta).

This Golden Agewas disturbed bythe first Vikingsraids in 795 ADby a raid onRathlin Island.Norseman andDanes ravagedthe monasteriesof Scotland

(Alba), The Isleof Man (Mannin),Briton (Albain)and Ireland(irinn) for the

next 200 years. In 820 AD Cork was attackedand plundered. In 840 AD the Vikings startedto establish colonies, usually taking over placeswhich had been trading posts on the coast.Vikings settlements were established atLimerick, Cork, Youghal, Waterford, Wexford,Dublin, Annagassan, Carlingford, Strangford,Lough Neagh and Lough Foyle. In Limerick,Cork, Waterford, Wexford and Dublin

hinterlands were created for the settlements.Battles with, and raids upon, the Gaelickingdoms continued from 795 AD till 902 AD.In many cases Gaelic Kings made allianceswith the Vikings enlisting them as mercenaries in minor wars of conquest against other Gaelic kings. Chief amongstthose allying themselves with the Norse were the Dl Cais of Thomond. In 902 AD the Norse of Dublin were beatenand expelled, and there was no further activity till 914 AD, when Vikings fleets attacked and re-occupied Dublin, andattacked Munster and Leinster from a base in Waterford. The Vikings were already in decline in Ireland when theywere defeated at the Battle of Clontarf 1014 AD. However the presence of the Vikings gave Rome a foothold inIreland, as the Vikings who had become Christian swore canonical obedience to the Archbishop of Canterbury whichsupported Rome against Byzantium. By the start of the 11th century Munster was Desmumu and Tuadmumu. OtherKingdoms of prominence were Connachta, Breifne, Airgialla, Mhde, Laigin, and Ulaid (split between the O'Neillsand the O'Donnells and their allies).


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Irish WarriorsPrior to the arrival of Norman mercenaries in 1167 AD, Irish Kings retained the equivalent ofknights appointed from amongst their kin and nobles. This was supplemented in time of warby conscription of Kern (catharnach, meaning friendship or mutual benevolence)(7), whoserved as basic infantry in any conflict. Long before the advent of Christianity and theconcept of European chivalry evolved, Canon Bourke, examiner in Celtic History at the

Royal University of Ireland, identifies 5 separate military orders(8)

An Niagh Nasc - knights of the golden chain , in modern Gaelige "niachas" is used as an

alternative for the word chivalry

1.

An Curraidh na Craoibhe Ruaidhe - knights of the Red Branch, lit. Champions of the red

branch or bough

2.

An Clanna Deagha - knights of Munster, lit. Family of Deagha3.

An Clanna Baoisgne - knights of Leinster, lit. Family of Baoisgne4.

An Clanna Morna - knights of Connaught, lit. Family of Morna. (There existed in Connaught the

Gamhainride - literally knights of the calf, perhaps one and the same)

5.

Perhaps the most renowned in legend are the Fianna ("fiin-ainmh - meaning wild animals),supposedly established in 300 BC. They were based at Tara and at their height said to havenumbered 25 battalions. Most Arthurian scholars agree that the concept of the "knights of the roundtable" is taken from the stories of Gaelic knightly orders. One of the earliest accounts of eliteorganised bands is given by Polybius, recounting the battle of Telamon in 225 BC between Celts andRomans. Special groups of spearmen called "Gaestae" threw themselves naked into battle forreligious reasons. From this account grew the fable Celtic warriors going naked into battle as a rule.

"Both classical and vernacular literary sources describe a Celtic society based on a warrior litewhere displays of combative prowess and individual feats of bravery were an important feature oflife," states Dr Miranda Green of the University of Wales, Ireland(9). Scotland and Wales were at this time perhapsthe last surviving Celtic nations.

A writer in the 2nd century AD wrote of the Celts, "The whole race ... is madly fond of war, highspirited and quick to battle."(10) Great pride was set in single combat to the death and in thetaking of heads of slain enemies; which practice had a religious and spiritual value. The primaryweapons of the Celt were a shield, a sword and javelins. The Celtic soldier was a much soughtafter mercenary. Celtic religion was one of the first to evolve a doctrine of immortality.Philostratus of Tyana (170-249 AD) observed that the Celts greeted birth with mourning and deathwith joy, and Caesar cynically stated that this would account for their deeds of reckless bravery inbattle.(11) In the period before the rise of Rome, Celtic mercenaries were avidly sought after. TheEgyptian pharaohs used them as bodyguards and to suppress rebellions. Queen Cleopatra had abodyguard of 10,000 Celts. The Greeks from the 4th Century BC started recruiting CelticMercenaries in the thousands. Xenophon, disciple of Socrates, records the Celtic mercenariesfighting for Sparta were great horsemen. Xenophon served in the Spartan cavalry in a war againstThebes. What he describes echoes the commentary of Tudor commentators nearly 1900 years laterin describing Irish horsemen.

"Few though they were, they were scattered here and there. They charged towards the Thebans, threw their javelins,and then dashed away as the enemy moved towards them, often turning around and throwing more javelins. Thusthey manipulated the whole Theban army, compelling it to advance or fall back at their will". In 334BC Alexandermet with Celtic warriors on the banks of the Danube and asked them what they feared most, expecting a reply thatthey feared him. Instead they stated "We fear only that the skies will fall on our heads." Cross the paths of ancienthistory and you will find the footsteps of the Celts fighting for the Carthaginians against Scipio and holding the centerof their line, while Numidians and Carthaginians fled the Roman slaughter; in Spain and Italy with Hannibal; withAlexander the Great in Asia. The Romans, according to Livy, feared the Celts and always dealt harshly with them,slaughtering them or selling them in to slavery when the Romans were victorious. Celts preferred single combatsbetween leaders rather than pitched battles.

To prevent this in 340 BC it was decreed that no Roman commander would settle military disputes through single

combat with a Celt. Celtic Mercenaries were recruited by Carthage, Syria, Bythinia, Macedonia, Palestine, Syracuse,


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Sparta, Egypt, and eventually Rome.

Aristotle (384-322 BC) dismissed Celtic valour, writing, "It is not bravery to withstand fearful things throughignorance ... and again even if one understands how great the danger is, it is not bravery to withstand it throughhigh-spiritedness as when the Celts take up arms to attack the waves; and in general all the courage of the barbariansis compounded with high-spiritedness." The Greeks gave the Celtic Race their name, "Keltoi,"(12) from the Celtsonly name for themselves, Celtillos. Caesar wrote "Who are called Celts in their own language, and Gauls in

ours."(13) The terms Gaul, Gallitian, Celts or Gael were interchangeable. The Celts regarded the Romans asbarbarians due to their practice of murdering prisoners or selling prisoners, including women and children, intoslavery.

The Warriors found in Ireland before 1167AD were in attitude, languages, social customs andways of war the Celts that had fought history's ancient wars in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Saxons (Sassenacht in Gaelic/ Sasseneg in Welsh) had invaded Celtic Briton. In 449AD TheCeltic King Voltigern (Vawr-tighern) of Southern Britain hired Saxon mercenaries from theRhineland under the command of two brothers Horsa and Hengist. After a year the mercenariesrebelled and put Southern Britain to the torch, murdering and seizing land.

The Saxon invasion began and continued virtually unchecked for till 937 AD when the Celts withVikings allies are defeated finally in Battle at Brunanburh (near Chester).(14) In 1066 ADhowever the Saxons are defeated by an invasion of Normans from France. Following a disastrouscivil war (1130-1140s AD), 100 years later a group of Norman knights who had backed thewrong side (King Stephen instead of King Henry II) found themselves without the NormanKing's patronage.

In 1166 AD King Diarmait MacMurchada of Leinster was expelled from his land by allies of the King of TaraRuaidr Ua Conchobhair. Diarmait fled to Bristol and from there to London, where he swore homage to Henry II ofEngland in return for permission to recruit a mercenary army to restore him to his throne. With this act MacMurchadarepeated the folly of Voltigern; he recruited The Earl of Pembroke (otherwise known as Strongbow or RichardFitzGilbert de Clare) and his knights (Maurice FitzGerald, Robert FitzStephen, Meiler FitzHenry, and Robert deBarry), who were getting a difficult time from the Celts of southern Wales (whom they were trying to subdue). Thepromise of rich reward lay across the sea in Leinster. The first targets were all Vikings settlements. RobertFitzStephen landed with his force on 1st May 1169 at Bannow and went on to burn, pillage and take Wexford. A year

later Raymond le Gros landed with a force at Baginbun, Dundonald. Strongbow arrived on 23 August 1170 and thenWaterford was taken. In September 1170 Dublin fell, and all Vikings settlements were then in Norman hands.Diarmairt gave his daughter Aoife in marriage to Strongbow. Dairmairt assembled his army of 3,000 men. Itcomprised of 2,600 Leinster men and Vikings and 400 Normans. Dairmairt then invaded the lands of Irish chieftainswho had refused to accept his over-lordship. The King of Tara intervened and Dairmairt promised to expel theNormans, but did not - instead he released them to the King of Thomond. Dairmairt died on 1st May 1171 andStrongbow claimed the Leinster Kingship. Suspicious that Stongbow might set up his own Kingdom in Ireland,Henry II landed with a large military force at Crook, Waterford on 17 Oct 1171, and stayed till the following spring.Henry II claimed the lordship of Ireland.

Here we meet an interesting dilemma for the English crown. It is normal for an English Monarch to display in theirpersonal coat-of arms their properties - the arms of England, of Scotland if it is the case, and/or of territories inFrance, as was the case with the Plantagenets. However, the first English monarch to display the arms of the lordship

of Ireland was James I, in the 17th century. The Norman adventurers, now calling themselves English, used theVikings ports they had seized for raids against various Irish Chiefs and Kings. When the ports were seized it did notunduly trouble the Gaelic kings as it was simply Norman fighting their kin - Norsemen over land the Vikings hadseized from Gaelic chiefs and kings. The lands of MacMurchada, which were ceded to Strongbow through hismarriage to Princess Aoife, were divided by Henry II and dispersed to Norman knights. What was happening inLeinster held little interest for Desmond, Thomond, Connaught or Ulster; no more than fighting in Germany wouldhave troubled Holland, Denmark or Sweden.

The first English accounts of Irish Knights and nobles are recorded at meetings. Irishknighthood is recognised as "an ancient custome of knighthood before they received themanners of English civility."(15) In 1385, Richard II visited the English colony of the Pale(Dublin and the area of Leinster and Meath). Visiting Irish Kings and noblemen wereplaced under the care of Henry of Castille, of Richard's household. Castille asked them:

"... if they would receive the Order of Knighthood and that the King of England should


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make them Knights according to the usage of France and England and other countries.They answered how they were knights already and that that sufficed for them. I askedwhere they were made knights, and how, and when? They answered that at the age of 7years they were made Knights in Ireland and that a King maketh his son a Knight, and ifthe son have no father alive them the next of kin maketh him a knight."(16)

The Niadh Nask, founded by King Muinheamhoin, back in the mists of time, is known as

the Military order of the Golden Chain. Keating, writing in 1633, tells us that King Muinheamhoin "ordered that allshould wear about the neck a chain of gold to show their rank and to distinguish them from the common people."(17)The Niadh Nask became the Royal Bodyguard of Munster. King Olioll Olum of Munster had a Niadh Nask RoyalBodyguard who "wore green cloaks with silver brooches and every one of them wore a collar of gold"(18)

Seven hundred years later, in the 10th century, we read of King Cellachan of Munster (20th in descent from KingOlioll Olum(19)): "And there was arrayed bravely by the heroes an ever beautiful very strong banner of the battlesurrounded by standards, and strong princely ensigned tower of chiefs and a skilful phalanx of blue blades and ahandsome enclosure of linen cloth around the heroes. For the heroes had neither blue helmets, nor shining coats ofmail, but only elegant tunics with smooth fringes and shields and beautifully, finely wrought collars of gold". Thisfine linen shirt was the Line Croich, examples of it can be seen as worn by Irish Warriors in a 16th century print inthe Ashmolean Museum, Oxford in England. Similar sketchings by Lucas de Heere in 1547 and 1575 show the Lineas worn by warriors. In fact the Line was often a substitute, as from 20-25 yards of linen could be used in excessivepleating to provide protection from cuts and thrusts. In 1537 an Act of Common Order was passed seeking to reduce

the linen used in the Linte to a mere 7 yards. The garment is recorded in texts by Major in 1521, and Derricke in1577. Nobles (and later - pipers who were noble by occupation) wore Saffron to denote their standing. According toGordon of Straloch 1594: "As for their Apparel; next the skin they wear a short linen Shirt, which the great menamong them sometimes dye of saffron colour. They use it short that it may not incumber them, when running ortravelling." Major in 1521 writes: "From the middle of the thigh to the foot they have no covering for the leg,clothing themselves with a mantle instead of an upper garment and a shirt dyed with saffron." The Niadh Nask areoften referred to as Munster Champions, and this description of the Royal Bodyguard comes from the 12th centuryLebor na Cert: "Eight score cloaks, eighty bright shields on goodly arms, the King of Munster of heroic battlesdistributes these to his valiant champions."

"There was an order of Chivalry, the distinguishing mark of which was what was called Nasc-Niad. Neither the ordernor the course of the decoration, was conferred except won on the field of battle. And the person who won theNasc-Niad was called Nia-Naisc or Champion of the Collar like the English Knight of the Garter"(20)

The Irish knights were well regarded by the English"800 year behind the time ... Unable for want ofstirrups, to couch a lance, he carried the javelin,which was his principal weapon, overarm in theancient manner ... The horsemen had always 2horses, often 3 each with its groom or horseboy inattendance. These horseboys also took part inbattle as light troops. Their horsemen wererecruited from the richer and more prosperouselements of the landowning classes (that is fromthe Gaelic aristocracy."(21)

Similarly in 1543, Sir Anthony St Leger wrote ina dispatch to Henry VIII: "I think for their feat ofwar, which is for light scourers, there are noproperer horsemen in Christian ground, nor more

hardy, nor yet that can better endure hardness." Later in the same century, Sir Edmund Spenser would write: "I haveheard some great warriors say that in all the services which they have seen abroad in Foreign countries they neversaw a more comely horseman than the Irishman, nor that cometh on more bravely in his charge."(22)

In 1600, Fybnes Moryson states: "Their horsemen are all gentlemen (I mean of great septs or names, how base soeverotherwise". Richard Stanihurst in 1577 writes: "These horsemen when they have no stay of their own gad and rangefrom house to house like errant knights of the round table, and they never dismount until they ride into the hall and asfar as the table."

In pursuing his wars in France and Scotland, Edward I required assistance from his Norman Lords in Ireland in 1296.They brought with them Irish mercenaries, Light Cavalry as described above called by the English Hobelar or


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Hobelur, and some Kern. The Hobelur were used as intelligence scouts, patrols, foraging parties, garrison troops andrapid intervention troops. So impressed was Edward I in January 1300, he hired 300 hobelurs. In 1301 a mercenaryforce of 2,300 Irish troops was raised, including 390 hobelurs. In 1303 an Irish force of 3,400 men included 499hobelurs. And in 1347 fifty Irish hobelurs are to be found in the English force besieging Calais. Many of thesehorsemen came from Ulster, and The O'Nill were handsomely paid by the English.

The foot soldier, or Kern, was equally feared and respected: "The Kern is a kind of

footman, slightly armed with a sword, a target (targe) of wood or a bow & sheaf ofarrows with barbed heads or else 3 darts (javelins) which they cast with wonderfulfacility & nearness."

Kern wore the line croich with its many pleats, often covered in pitch or withdeer skin sewn over it to further its armouring properties. Over the shirt was wornionar (short padded jackets). When chain mail shorts were worn they were wornover a padded jacket called a cotn. The Irish Kings and lords learned that theyrarely won in confrontational battles with the heavily armoured Normans, andresorted to guerilla warfare and hit & run tactics rather than pitched battles. Theyalso resorted to building castles and tower houses across their domains. Even stillthe invader, operating from the Viking settlements he had seized, operatedruthlessly. The King of Breffny, Tigernn O'Rourke, was murdered on his way to ameeting, and his severed head and body were displayed on the walls of Dublin.

Compromise with the English did not work, and even compliant rulers such as Feidlim O'Connor (who fought as amercenary for the English in Wales) found that English Royal promises were not usually kept. King Brian O'Neill ofTara was killed by the colonists in battle in 1260, and his head sent to London to be spiked for display at the Tower ofLondon. Things were to change for the Gaelic Kings and princes in the arrival of the Galloglas.

An Gall glaighThe first recorded arrival of the Galloglas was in 1259. Prince Aed O'Connor of Connaught, son of King Feidhlimmarried a princess, daughter of Dubhgall MacRory King of the Hebrides. As part of her dowry she brought with her aforce of 160 Galloglas. Galloglas came for the most part from Inse Ghall (The Hebrides); they were Gaelic speakingScots inbred with Vikings. Because of their Viking blood they earned the name Gall (foreign) and glaigh (a warrior)["g" meaning young and "laigh" from "Laoch" meaning a hero], so a Galloglas was a foreign warrior. The Scotsthemselves were Irish, mainly the Dal Riata from Northern Ireland who had traveled to Western Scotland andHebrides. Initially they had gone to aid the Celtic people there - the Tuatha Cruithne tribes, such as the Caledonii and

Maecatae, against the attempted Roman insertions. The Romans eventually gave up on invasion and built Hadrian'sWall. Their soldiers nicknamed the Celts of Alba "picti" because of their practice of painting and tattooing theirbodies. The annals of Ulster records such Alba Celts living in Ireland as late as 809 AD. The Scots dressed and spokethe same language as their Ulster brothers for many years. Intermarriage was encouraged and some familiesmaintained land on both islands. Tartan is we know it did not make an appearance till much later. In 1247 whenMaoileachlainn O'Donnell, son of Domnhall Mr died defending the Kingdom against Anglo-Norman adventurers atthe battle of Ballyshannon. MacSomhairle, King of Argyll, died fighting at his side.

A number of Galloglas families became established in Ireland primarily with the Kings of Ulster (O'Neill andO'Donnell). Galloglas was a hereditary occupation passed with family septs from father to sun. The initial settlementswere in Ulster.

MacSibhne (MacSweeney)

MacDomhnaill (MacDonnell/MacDowell)MacSothaigh (MacSheehy)

MacDubhgaill (MacDougall)

MacCaba (MacCabe)

MacRuari (MacRory)

Lesser known Galloglas families are :

MacSorley

MacNeill

MacGreal

MacAnGhearr (Short/ Shortt/McGirr)


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MacAnGallglaigh(MacGallogly/English)

MacClean(MacAlean/MacLean/MacClane)

MacAiln (MacCawell/Campbell/MacCampbell/Allen/MacEllin)

MacAlister (MacEllistrum/MacAllister/MacAlistrum)

MacAlexander,Agnew (O'Gnimh/O'Gnimha/O'Gnive)(23)

The Galloglas were at the forefront the Gaelic revival, since they presented the first tangibleopportunity for Gaelic Kings to match the heavily armoured entourage of the Normanadventurer. The Galloglas became the central component of Gaelic warfare, fitting betweenthe mounted Irish nobles and the Kern footsoldiers. Many of the Normans intermarried withthe Gaelic nobility, adopting their dress, customs and religion. This last statement may seemstrange, but it should be remembered that the Celtic church was Byzantine, and the EnglishChurch had followed Rome in the great schism. Rome had sent Boniface to Germany tosabotage and dismantle the work of the Celtic missionaries. St Augustine did the same inBriain. In 1367, the infamous Statutes of Kilkenny were passed in an attempt to drive a wedgebetween the Normans and the Gaelic people in Ireland. It enacted laws on dress, language andreligion that were in some cases capital if transgressed. The Gaelic Kingdoms of Desmond,Thomond, Connaught and Ulster functioned alongside an occupied Leinster.

A Famine in 1315-1317 weakened the English settlements and deprived the English of muchneeded supplies for their campaign against the Scots. The Plaque known as the Black Deathhit the English Colonies of Cork, Wexford, Waterford and Dublin in 1348. Outside of ThePale three Normal Earldoms existed (Butlers in Ormond, and FitzGeralds in Kildare and

Desmond) which became more of a problem to the English than the Gaelic Kings.

Scots warriors came well recommended. In 1297 Wallace had beaten the forces of Edward I (Plantagenet) in battle,and in June 1314 Robert the Bruce had delivered a crushing defeat to Edward II at Bannockburn. This demonstratedthat the armoured might of the English could be taken on and defeated.

One of the greatest Galloglas families, the MacSweeney, arrived through the marriage of Domhnall g O'Donnellwith a MacSweeney of Castle Sween and MacDonnel of the Isles.

Galloglas were primarily mercenaries: "No lord had a claim on them for a rising out or a hosting, but they mightserve whomsoever they wished. It was the Scottish habit they had observed ... namely each man according as he wasemployed."(24)

Contemporary English writers describe the Galloglas in these terms:

"Valiant and hardy ... great endurers of cold, labour and all hardness, very active and strong ofhand, very swift of foot"; "Picked and selected men of great and mighty bodies"; "men ofgreat stature, of more than ordinary strength of limb"; "grim of countenance, tall of stature,big of limb, burly of body, well and strong timbered chiefly feeding on beefe, porke & butter."

The Galloglas were officered by their own chieftains and nobles. Galloglas were organisedinto Corrughadh, which the English translated as a battle of Galloglas. One Elizabethanobserver reported that "a battle of Galloglas be 60 or 80 men harnessed on foot with spars,every one whereof hath his knave to bear his harness, whereof some have spears, some havebows."

John Dimmed in the same period speaks of each Galloglas having 2 servants, 1 to carry his equipment and 1 to carryhis provisions. This unit of a Galloglas and his two servants or Kern are referred to as a "spar," derived from the wordSprat - the large Vikings style axe that many Galloglas carried. By 1575, a Corrughadh consisted of 100 Galloglas.Each Galloglas received annual payment of 12 cattle plus victuals in the form of butter and corn-meal. Commandingthe Corrughadh was a "Consapal." The consapal received payment annually of 36 cattle, victuals equivalent to that ofman, a war-horse and hack. The consapal was allowed a shortfall of 13 men, whose pay went to the Consapal. Thiswould mean that by the end of the 16th century Galloglas Corrughadh were at minimum 87 men, plus their Kern orservants. The Consapal was also fined for missing men and equipment - 2 cows fine per missing man (1 for the manand 1 for his armour), a shilling for a missing sparth, a goat for a missing spear. The lack of a helmet was not finedsince the death of the Galloglas in battle was sufficient punishment. By 1512 there were reported to be 59 Corrughadh

through Ireland in the employ of various Kings and lords.


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In battle the Galloglas had a formidable reputation for standing their ground in a do-or-die manner. Weread in 1416, in the Annals of Connaught: "O'Ruairc's sons were in great distress until they reachedtheir Galloglas ... but when they reached both parties turned upon their pursuers and killed 48 of the FirManach (Fermanagh)." In 1419: "The Connaught horsemen were hurled back towards theirGalloglasses, but these held their ground and fought on." It is a fiction that the English ever banned thewearing of the green; however Henry VIII, in a statute of 1537, tried to eradicate the wearing of saffron

by Irish noblemen (a concept contained in Brehon law): "No person or persons shall be shorn or shavenabove the ears, or use the wearing of hair called glibes (a thick fringe or lock of hair on the foreheadthat frequently covered the eyes and was a characteristic of Irish warriors from glasta - to dress), orhave to use any hair growing upon their upper limits called or named a crommeal (croimal -

moustache, another Celtic warrior trait from pre-Christian times), or the use of any shirt, kerchief, of linen capcoloured or dyed with saffron." The act went on to make the speaking of Gaelige a treasonable offence.Tudor fiatsfrom the period show that, because of prohibitions placed by the English and Scottish Governments on the movementof Galloglas between Scotland and Ireland, Galloglas formations accepted native Irishmen into their ranks to trainand be Galloglas. These Irish Galloglas filled the gaps created by casualties. Obviously, these Galloglas were not"Ghall-Gaels" (foreign gaels), as gaels with mixed Gaelic-Viking blood were called. They became Galloglas by virtueof having been accepted and inducted in to the ranks of the Galloglas unit. This recruitment of the native Irish into theGalloglas tradition brought new prohibitions under English law for the native gael.In 1571, Henry's daughter,Elizabeth turned on the Galloglas in a prohibition: "The sons of all husbandmen and ploughmen shall follow the sameoccupation as their fathers. If a son of a husbandman or ploughman shall become a Kern, Galloglas or horseboy(Galloglas or hobulur's servant or page), or will take any other idle trade of life he shall be imprisoned for 12 monthsand fined." The act then required Irish Kings and lords to register the names of all their horsemen or footmen and tolimit the size of their guard. Failure to do so was punishable by death. "All Irish law called the Brehon Law to be ofno force." Any Brehon judge would forfeit all his goods and be imprisoned for 12 months. Henry's edicts againstGaelic hairstyles and clothes were reinforced with a 100 fine, then a massive amount of money.At the end of the15th century, a Galloglas captain named Barrett (Barid or Bairad) with 24 Galloglas fled the Tirawley district ofCounty Mayo in Connaught and entered the service of the Anglo-Norman Earl of Kildare. Soon the force of BarrettGalloglas was swelled by local recruitment and training to 120 men. The Barretts became the primary Galloglas ofthe Kildare area, to be found in local and national records till the end of the 16th century (at which time we findBarretts serving as officers in the Irish Regiments in Spanish Service).

Royal Galloglas

In his book written in 1925, Butler writes "The main distinction in the latter period (16th cent.)would no doubt be between those who owned the land, and those who lived on landsbelonging to others. Many of these were personally free; and often were offshoots fromfamilies of distinction in other parts of the island; but had settles as mercenaries, or in otherpositions of trust ... Such were the fighting clans of the MacSwiney and MacSheehy."(25)

The first Galloglas to arrive in Desmond was Edmond MacSweeney of Tirconnel, who broughthis men from Donegal for the purpose of taking back West Muskerry between 1310 and 1320.He was hired by King Dermod III. Tradition has that the MacSweeneys arrived earlier duringthe reign of King Cormac V for the war against the Anglo-Normans, whom he defeated at theBattle of Mangerton in 1262, and at which he was killed. Two other MacSweeney septs were employed by theMacCarthys: Donough MacTurlough and Bryan MacSweeney of Ballogh. Edmond was known as MacSuighne nad'Tuath (MacSweeney of the battle-axes). The MacSweeneys and other Galloglas who served the Kings of Desmondreceived contractual grants of land and use of land in payment. A number of castles were built in this time and were

garrisoned by the Galloglas. The more notable MacCarthy castles being: Ballea, Ballycarbery, Blarney,Carrignamuck, Castleinchy, Castlelough, Castlemore, Cloghroe, Carrigadrohid, Drishane, Dromaneen, Gorticlough,Kanturk, Kilbrittain, Kilbonane, Kilcoe, Kilmeedy, Macroom, Mashanaglas, Togher, Pallis and Castleshort(Caislengarre of which there were 4, 1 in Kerry, and 3 in Cork). Donel Mac Owen MacSweeney was warden ofBlarney Castle before being given similar responsibility at Macroom in 1591 at Mashanaglas. The Papal MarquisOwen MacSwiney, Lord of Mashanaglas, died in 1986 and was the last of the line of Edmond. His widow,Marchioness MacSwiney, met his successor as Mashanaglas, Brigadier General Peacock, at Cashel in 1996 for theQuatercentenary commemoration of the death of the last King of Desmond. With the employment of Galloglas, TheNiadh Nask ceased its function as a Royal Bodyguard, passing this to the Galloglas. The Niadh Nask retained its rolein war and ceremonial duties at all other times. In 1580, Sir George Carew, the English president for Munster drew upan intelligent report of Irish forces in Munster. It showed that the last King of Desmond, King Donal IX, MacCarthyMr could field 362 knights, 400 Galloglas and 5,500 Kern (a force of 6,262 men when Dublin's English garrisonwas no more than 1000).


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(figures shown are Horse / Galloglas / Kerne)

MacCarthy Mr, 40 / 160 / 2000

MacCarthy Reagh, Lord of Carbry 60 / 80 / 2000

Donough MacCarthy, of Dowallie 24 / 80 / 200

Taig MacCormac MacCarthy of Muskry 40 / 80 / 200O'Keefe 12 / 0 / 100

McAwliffe 80 / 0 / 60

O'Donovan 6 / 0 / 60

O'Driscol 6 / 0 / 200

O'Mahon 26 / 0 / 120

O'Sullivan 10 / 0 / 200

O'Donough 12 / 0 / 200

O'Manony 46 / 0 / 100

O'Dwyer 12 / 0 / 100

McTeig McPhilip 6 / 0 / 40

TOTALS - 362 Horse / 400 Galloglas / 5,500 Kerne

In 1420 the Anglo-Norman Earl of Desmond married Mary, the daughter of McWilliam-Burke of Clanrickarde inConaught; with her came the MacSheehy Galloglas into his service.

Galloglas, A time of transitionThe O'Neill, O'Donnel and his Spanish allies were broken by the British at the battle of Kinsale on 24th Dec 1601.The Galloglas and redshank (Scots mercenaries) who were captured were put to the sword by the English. TheO'Donnel fled to Spain, where in 1602 he was assassinated by poison by an English agent. In December 1601,Spanish troops landed in West Cork and with O'Sullivan Beare set to ousting the English. The English troops underCarew invaded Desmond and carried out a campaign of murder, rapine, torching and terror worthy of the ancient

Mongols. The Spanish surrendered and the O'Sullivan Beare set out on an epic forced march on 31st Dec 1602 toreach the safety of Ulster with him 400 fighting men, and 600 civilians (men, women, children the elderly andinfirm). After 15 days they found sanctuary at Leitrim Castle with The O'Rourke. Only 35 people including 1 womenhad survived the starvation, exposure and ambushes. On 4th September 1607, The O'Neill and The O'Donnell with 97members of the family and guards left Rathmullan in Donegal for exile in Spain - the so-called "flight of the earls" (tothe Gael it was the flight of the Princes - English Earls who had rejected their titles to be Gaelic Princes). A Rebellionin 1608 by The O'Doherty was put down, and further planned Spanish and French landings never took place.

The Galloglas never died. The wars against the Tudors had shown them methods of war had changed - the Galloglaswere families and so they changed their methods. Some of the Ulster and Connaught Galloglas families followed TheO'Neill and The O'Donnell into exile and entered the service of Spain, which formed distinct Irish Regiments. TheTyrone Regiment was raised by Henry O'Neill, son of The O'Neill in 1605. Owen Roe O'Neill and Hugh O'Donnellraised regiments in 1633 and 1637 respectively, and Patrick FitzGerald raised another regiment in Spanish service in1640. Hugh O'Donnell took command of all the Irish Regiments in Spanish service in 1647. Irish Regiments were

also raised in French service Rodrigh in 1615, The Wall Regiment in 1632, Coosle in 1635, O'Reilly in 1639 andCastlenau in 1650.

The Gaelic skills of hand-to-hand and their style of fighting was not lost, as a Frenchobserver Boullaye le Gouz comments in 1644: "The Irish carry a scquine (scian - knife)or Turkish dagger, which they dart (throw) very adroitly at 15 paces distance; and havethis advantage, that if they remain masters of the field of battle there remains no enemy,and if they are routed, they fly in such a manner that it is impossible to catch them. [Acommon complaint by English Tudor soldiers] I have seen an Irishman with easeaccomplish 25 miles a day. They march to battle with the bagpipes instead of fifes, butthey have few drums and they use the musket and cannon as we do. They are bettersoldiers abroad than at home."

Irish and Scots mercenaries fought first in the Army of the Gustavus Adolphus II, King


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of Sweden in the Regiments of Forbes. They are pictured in Stettin in August 1631with bows/arrows, muskets and scian. Their number included redshank mercenaries who had previously served inIreland. These units served in the Baltics and Germany, learning the new ways of war. They brought these skills homewith them. The Confederate Wars of the 1640's in Ireland and the defeat of the Confederate forces under theremaining Gaelic Princes led to the Cromwellian invasion and Plantation. The Rebellion started in October 1641 inUlster under Phelim O'Neill. The massacre of the Gaels that followed by English soldiers was carried out with the fullapproval of their government. One English officer resigned his commission because a Protestant Bishop from the

pulpit had asked for mercy to be shown to Gaelic women and children. Because no objection was raised to thesermon, the officer adjudged those who had heard it traitors to the English cause.(26) The British Parliament did nottrust Charles I and so passed a bill enabling an army of adventurers to be raised through private subscription theSubscribers to be rewarded through taking possession of confiscated Irish lands. In 1642 an army of 5,500 assembledat Bristol ready to invade Munster and put it to the sword. However the English Civil War broke out and the forceswere redirected to Parliament's effort. It was not till August 1649 that Cromwell arrived in Ireland with his forces andput the country to the sword and the torch. By 1652 Cromwell was in possession of Ireland and the Gaelic familieseast of the River Shannon were dispossessed of their lands and driven in to Connaught.

In July 1644, Alasdair MacColla landed in Scotland with 2,500 Irish veterans led by the Clan MacDonnell in Antrimto link with Gaelic Royalist forces of the Clan McDonell in Scotland, under the Marquis of Montrose. The Puritanlowlanders had served in Protestant armies in Holland and Sweden. Their modern methods of warfare were no matchfor the old Gaelic penchant for close-quarters.

"Lowland armies were led by commanders who considered their proper place on the battlefield to be behind the frontlines. In contrast the Gaels considered firearms a poor second choice to the sword, thought artillery an unnecessaryburden, and were led in to battle by warrior-captains to whom drawing first blood was a point of honour. The oldCeltic charge without refinement would have been enough to render ineffectual the covenanting army's relativemodernism. Their firearms were too inaccurate to break the charge's impetus and were useless in close-combat. Theyrelied too little on the blade weapons which could have given them parity with the Gaels in the hand-to-hand combatthat followed the charge."(27)

An example is the battle of Tippermuir in 1644. The Gaels (Highlanders and Irish) beat a lowland force twice its sizeby charging them, firing their muskets, dropping them and engaging the superior force with swords, targe and scian.The lowlanders broke and fled. A further 1,000 of them died in the ferocious pursuit by the Gaels. A description ofthe hardiness of the Irish warriors who held the centre of the battleline with highlanders on either flank, is given by aneyewitness, the Rev. Alexander Carlyle saw an Irish soldier: "trailing his leg, so shattered at the thigh by a cannonball

that it hung by a mere thread of skin. Observing his comrades somewhat dismayed at his misfortune, he hailed themwith a cheery voice, 'Ha, comrades, such is the luck of war; neither you nor I should be sorry for it. Do your workmanfully. As for me sure my lord Marquis will make me a trooper (horseman), now I am no good for the foot(infantry).' With these words he coolly drew his knife, without flinching cut away the skin with him own hand, andgave the leg to a comrade to bury."

The battle of Tippermuis, and subsequently Aberdeen, dispelled the nonsense that the Gaels could not withstand acavalry charge. Again the Irish in centre of the line opened ranks at the approach of the cavalry then closed aroundthem and annihilated them at close-quarters.

At Inverlochy in 1645 under the slopes of Ben Nevis, 1500 Irish & Highlanders stood against 3,000 Campbells andlowland regulars. This was after a forced march by the Gaels, without food for 2 days and through deep snow andwaist-high freezing water. In this battle the MacDonells took the centre to be opposite the hated Campbells, and theIrish took the flank.

The Gaels charged. The Irish were told to hold their fire till they could set fire to the beardsof the enemy, this they did. It came to close-quarters with blade. The Gaels lost 4 dead and200 wounded and the Campbells and covenant army 1,500 dead. At Auldearn in May 1645MacColla personally led a charge of 400 Irish into a vanguard of 500 Campbells again theday was won. 100 of the Irish died whilst 2,000 of the lowlanders were casualties. AtKilsyth the Irish and the Highlanders occupied the centre. When the Lowland cavalryattacked the Highlanders charged them, the Gaels vying with each other who would firstspill the enemy blood. The Clan Ranald won by charging into the cavalry and cutting it toribbons, followed closely by the Irish, MacDonalds, MacLeans and other highland clans.The lowlanders were routed leaving 3,500 of their 7,000 force dead or wounded. In 1645MacColla returned to Ireland with his remaining warriors. In 1689, The Irish returned tofight alongside the Highlanders when 300 Irish warriors stood again between Clan MacLean and Clan Ranald at

Killiecrankie during the Jacobite-Williamite war. The Gaelic charge won the day inflicting 3 times the casualties on


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the Williamite forces as were suffered by the Gaels.

The Irish were to stand again with the Highlanders for the last battle on Scottish soil - Culloden Moor in 1746. Irishpiquets of the French Irish Brigade covered the Scots' retreat.

Returning to Ireland at the time of Cromwell, between 1651 and 1654, 34,000 Irishmen left for service in Foreignarmies of France, Spain and Poland. Eyewitnesses repeatedly describe how the warriors left led by their pipers to the

tune of "Garryowen." In France, Charles Stuart formed an exile army under French protection. The following IrishRegiments were formed officered by Irish Noble and Galloglas families - York (1652) Bristol (1652), Muskerry(1647), and Dillon (1653). Wall's Regiment became the "Royal Irish" and joined them in 1652.

Hamilton's Regiment was raised in 1673. Charles returned to England in 1660 as King and conveniently forgot hisdebt to the Gaels leaving them to rot in France, and then garrisoning his dowry Tangiers with some of them. In 1688his brother James, then King, was ousted in a Palace coup. James fled to France, where he contracted to supply LouisXIV with 5,000 Irish soldiers in return for support. The revolt was blunted in 1691, and an infamous Treaty ofLimerick was signed (and immediately broken), and Penal Laws enacted which removed every last vestige of rightsfrom Gaels and Catholics. 20,000 Irish troops moved to France in what became known as the "Flight of the WildGeese" (Na Ganna Fiine). There were at the outset 2 Irish groups: The Irish Brigade in French Service numbering

just over 6,000 men in 5 regiments - Butler, Fielding, O'Brien, Dillon and Mountcashel under the command of JustinMacCarthy, Lord Mountcashel - and the army of James II of the regiments O'Neill, Clancarty, Limerick, Athlone,Queen's, Dublin and the Irish Guards, plus 2 battalions called the King's and Queen's Dragoons. Then there were theKings and Queens Regiments of Horse and 2 troops of Irish Horse Guards - in total 12,326 men. In the centuries tocome the Irish were to leave their blood on many a foreign battlefield, fighting for France, Spain, Savoy, Venice, ThePapal States, Russia, Prussia, Austria, Portugal and England. In the New World they fought for Brazil, Venezuela,Paraguay, Uruguay, Mexico, Canada and both the United and Confederate States. They have fought for South Africa,Australia and New Zealand, but always in Irish units.

Royal Galloglas Guard todayThe Galloglas is commanded by Colonel The Chevalier James Shortt, The Baron of Castleshort (An Ridire SamusMacAnGarr, An Tiarna na Barntach na Caislengarr). Piper for the Galloglas is Captaen Noel Whelan (NollaigO'Faollain).


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The Galloglas perform both ceremonial and protective functions. In Charleston recently The Galloglas escortedguests such as Prince Ermias Haile Selassie and General & Mrs Westmoreland. In London, the Galloglas were onhand at the War & Peace Ball at the Dorchester Hotel as an Escort for the Grand Duchess Maria VladirmirovnaRomanov. Immediately before the stroke of midnight, Wednesday, 15 July 1998, the Commander of the RoyalGalloglas, with Piper and Adjutants, paraded in full Galloglas uniform at St. Peter & Paul Cathedral in the fortress ofSt. Peter & Paul, St. Petersburg, Russia. They rendered the traditional honours and played a lament before the coffins

of Czar Nicholas II, his family & retainers, who were murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918.In one of their ceremonial roles, the Galloglas represent TheHonourable Society of the Irish Brigade (in Frenchservice), at commemorations of Irish Soldiers in ForeignService. Officers of the Royal Galloglas automatically areOfficers of the Society by virtue of representing the Societyat Memorial events. The Mountcashel Cross of the Societyof the Irish Brigade was drawn by Dennis Ivall , and is wornby Officers. It is named after Justin MacCarthy, ViscountMountcashel (first Duke of Clancarthy), the founder of theIrish Brigade. The Cross features crossed Galloglas Swordsto the rear and a Royal Munster Crown with cap above. Inthe centre appear the Royal Arms of the Kings of France and

in a belt the motto given to the Brigade by the French RoyalFamily - Semper et Ubique Fidelis - Always & Everywhere Faithful- and above thisthe date 1694 being the date of the death of Lord Mountcashel. The cross comes in 2classes - Officers Cross and Breast Cross.

The Guard were present and their Piper played in 1996 at the 250th anniversary of Culloden, at the Irish Piquet'smemorial. In the same year they were present at Killiecrankie. In 1995 in Belgium at Ypres, The Menin Gate andPaschendale, they mounted guard and piped. In 1997 they commemorated the Irish who fell at Fredericksburg. Thelife of Marshall Peter de Lacy in Russian Imperial Service was remembered at St Petersburg in Russia by theColonel, Captain-Piper and 2 adjutants. The Irish who fell in Swedish Imperial service at Riga were commemoratedin Riga in 1994 and 1997. In January 1998, The Royal Galloglas commemorated The Irish Volunteer Militia of SouthCarolina and Irish Confederate & Union veterans who fell at Fort Sumter including Captain John Mitchell (son ofYoung Irelander John Mitchell).

The Royal Galloglas wear a blue military tunic with the Galloglas badge on the right arm, a Saffron Kilt (filleadhbeag or filleadhn) with saffron plaid on the right shoulder. The metal buttons carry 3 ancient crowns.

Insignia of theRoyal Galloglas Guard

Khaki Shirt Sleeve(warm weather) Order


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Royal Galloglas Guard StructureOfficers

Colonel-CommandantArdcheannasa

Colonel of the Watch Coirnal

Commandant Ceannfort

Captain Captaen

Cornet Coirnad

CadetDalta

Companions

AdjutantAidinach

Corporal Corparil

Garda Garda an R

crown is crown and cap

triangle is the trinity knot

stripe is an inverted gold chevron

"Atlas of Irish History" by Sen Duffy - Gill & MacMillan. Dublin.1.

"Historical Essays on the Kingdom of Munster" by The MacCarthy Mr, Prince of Desmond - Gryfons.USA.2.

"Dictionary of Celtic Mythology" by Peter Berresford-Ellis - Constable. London3.

Written in Brla Fini - ancient Irish and passed by oral tradition, they were though to be codified for the first time in the 5th century at the

instigation of St Patrick, enlightener of Ireland. The most exact texts were published in Dublin between 1865 and 1901, in 6 volumes as

"Ancient Laws of Ireland"

4.

"Munster at War" by Commandant Barry O'Brien - The Mercier Press. Cork 19715.

"History of Great Island" by Rev. Edward Dennehy - Guy & Co. Cork 19236.

"The MacCarthys of Munster" by The MacCarthy Mr - The Dungalgan Press. Dundalk 19227.

King Olioll Olum was 47th in descent from Heber, who lived 1700 BC and was the eldest son of Milesius.8.

Milesius or Ml Espain (Soldier of Spain). Milesius who was originally called Golamh set out with his clan for Ireland on hearing that his

nephew Ith had been called by the D Danaan. He does not reach Ireland, but his sons conquer it. Milesius's wife Scota (daughter of the

Egyptian pharoah Necantebus is killed in battle near Tralee in what is now Kerry.

9.

"The Saffron Shirt" an academic paper.10.

"Pre-Christian Ireland" by Canon U.J. Bourke - Dublin 188711.

Dictionary of Celtic Myths & Legends by Dr Miranda Green - Thames & Hudson. London 199212.

"Celtic Way of Life" by Agnes McMahon - The O'Brien Press. Dublin 197613.

"The Celtic Empire" by Peter Berresford-Ellis - Constable. London 199014.

"The Rise of the Celts " by Henri Hubert - Paris 1934 (keltoi - greek/Celtae in latin)15.

"Gallic Wars" - "Qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur"16.

"Celt & Saxon" by Peter Berresford-Ellis - Constable. London 199317.

"Titles of Honour" by Selden London 162118.

"Froissart's Chronicles" G MacCaulay - London 190419.


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"History of Ireland" by Keating. 163320.

"Cuchulain of Muirthemne" by Lady Augusta Gregory - Dublin 190221.

"Caithreim Cellachain Caisil" trans. Prof Brugge (10th Century manuscript) 1905.22.

"A Social History of Ireland" Vol 1 P. Joyce Dublin 190323.

"Gaelic & Gaelicised Ireland in the Middle Ages" by K Nicholls - Dublin 197224.

" Celtic Warriors" by Tim Newark - Blandford Press 198825.

"More Irish Families" by E MacLysaght - Irish Academic Press. Dublin.198226.

"Leabher Chlainne Suibhne" by Walsh (Book of the clan MacSweeney)27.

"Gleanings from Irish History,The Lordship of MacCarthy Mr" by W Butler - London 1925.28.

"The Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland" by J Prendegast - Longman, Roberts & Green. London 186529.

"Celtic Warfare 1565-1763" by J.M.Hill - J Donaldson Ltd. Edinburgh 198630.

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the history of the royal galloglas

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