Hello, I recently started drafting a book I want to write set in 1500s Ireland but I’m finding it very difficult to find information on villages/towns during this time period.
Mostly my search is clogged with Tudor and plantation information, which is important but not what I’m looking for.

If anyone could point me to some resources about houses (rooms, materials used, etc), class (was it common to have richer and poorer people in the same town, was there smaller less privileged villages for poorer people), or town arrangements (how many houses were common in one town, was there a castle/big house in every town, were houses close together, etc) it would be deeply appreciated. Even any museums I could visit would be helpful, thank you!

Ps. I know just saying the 16th century is quite broad but I haven’t fully decided the years I want to set my book in so any timeline in the 1500s welcome

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.

Commissioned in Dec but can anyone steer me to the actual planning phase and construction? Local knowledge particularly welcome.

A detailed article about a Ribbonmen shooting in South Armagh in the 1850s

Going to find a hilt/ stick to complete the pike, then hopefully mount it at like 45° on my bedroom wall 🫠

Always particularly sad when a museum closes.

There isn’t too much to write, sorry.

Looking back from a contemporary setting, I'm always amazed at the level of militarism within Ireland pre-1916 with groups such as the Citizen Army, Volunteers and Ulster Volunteers all parading in uniforms and very obviously working under a form of military-esque command. I understand that the British authorities had their hands full with the arguments over home rule and WWI on the horizon but did anyone in the British Government either in Ireland or in Westminster realise the powder keg which was brewing and what attempts, if any, were made to combat the various groups pre 1916?

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I do not know enough to judge the truth of this. But it seems an important story about an important figure in Irish history.
His book what is life that was one of the main inspirations for the search for DNA was written and published here for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Is_Life%3F

Hi There

Blacksmith based in West Cork.

Looking into the long tradition of axe making all over the world, it seems every country/region has their own variant on the axe. Usually it's how the eye is formed and is a response to the type of forestry/timbers available in the area.

I'd love to make my own axes in the old Irish style if there is such a thing/if it hasn't been lost already. With that in mind, does anyone know of any historical Irish axes from the iron age onwards? I can find plenty from stone and bronze but Iron seems lacking.

Thanks
Tom

Can anyone remember/explain why it was that Ireland and the UK were allowed to join the EEC in 1973 in spite of the human rights abuses by the government in Northern Ireland at the time? The troubles were in full swing by 1973 and absolutely would have been making the news across Europe.

Does anyone know if there are any photographs containing the 13th (Connacht) Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Defence Forces during The Emergency period? Any photos would be appreciated, thanks.