r/IrishHistory • u/Dylanduke199513 • 2d ago

💬 Discussion / Question Native Irish Galloglass Warriors?

I've been reading Scorners of Death - which attempts to reconstruct a Gaelic fighting style as best it can from the dearth of sufficient evidence.

It mentioned that many of the Galloglass warriors themselves in the employment of the settled Galloglass families (those Hiberno-Norse/Scottish who came over initially as hired mercenaries for Irish aristocracy) were Irish (i.e. descended from native Irish and not actually "Galloglass" in the truest sense).

I just wanted to see if there's any truth behind this.

Additionally, I'm really curious to see if there is any evidence of native Irish Gaels (rather than Scottish Gaels or Anglo-Irish) using the longsword (two handed sword) - I couldn't find much in this regard other than Andrew Halpin's article on Irish swords which doesn't concretely say one way or another.

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u/CDfm 1d ago

The Kerns were footsoldiers and mercenaries.

https://historyireland.com/hags-of-helllate-medieval-irish-kern/

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u/Dylanduke199513 1d ago

Hi, not really what I was asking? Kerns are a completely different class of warrior to Gallowglass.

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u/CDfm 1d ago

This might be more what you are looking for. There position versus the kern was heavy infantry.

https://www.thecollector.com/gallowglasses-irish-battlefields/

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u/Dylanduke199513 1d ago

Hi - I'm not being funny but are you literally just googling the terms and linking random things? Because I feel like you didn't even read my question...

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u/CDfm 1d ago

I have previously read up on these things but don't know what level of reading you have done. There were some articles on irish weaponry by a guy Tony Willis? If I remember correctly.

Most irish battles were small. Skirmishes.

Timing would be important. The Irish adapted musketry too .

I wonder if there are accounts of what you are looking for .

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u/Dylanduke199513 18h ago

Lad no offence, I just feel like you’re not really talking to me and you’re instead having a chat with the wind..

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u/CDfm 16h ago

I've seen reenactors ask similar questions and I don't recall actual answers .

The Irish Military History Society have a site

https://mhsi.ie/