The Galloglass: Ireland's Axe Wielding Mercenary Class

Gallo Gael. Glass glas (green)

What I don't like to see are red headed Irish kidnap victims who think they are english😢

And then they were given alcohol

They were Scottish now it makes sense

I am descended from Gallowglass from Kilmacrenan

Fostering was common in that era - as a way of binding families together, so i'd imagine having your sons or nephews fostered out to a galloglas family was a good way of expanding the ranks of amiable soldiers and training your own close family members ... As well as providing a useful profession for cousins and nephews ,

These guys really tried to make bowlcuts look tough

there is something darkly comical about the first time in Irish History someone mentions a handgun being an incident of it being used as a club

Haha these Gallowglass are not Irish they are from Scotland a mixture of Scot/Pict/Viking in origin

gotta admit, these gallowglass seem a lot cooler than typical knights riding horses. Fighting on foot with long two-handed axes in formation is a lot more appealing for my knight fantasies. ;)

The army that restored McMurrough to his seat was not 'English', but mercenaries from Normandy, who were descendants of Norwegian mercenaries who had settled there. McMurrough was accompanied by Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke in Wales, a great grandson of one of the Normans who had invaded with William in 1066. They spoke French of course.

imagine hank hill training bobby to be gallowglass

You should have written this in crayon.

What a pile of shite. This AI narrated rubbish should be banned from you tube. The AI bot cannot even pronounce McInerney correctly. Its a smattering of half truths, half fantasy and half shite. Ideal for the American market but but not really something that any mildly intelligent Irish person would fall for.

Another localized variant of the berserker, hashashin, thuggee, and marxist anarchist Satanic cult-induced zombie soldier.

Oh look! Another piece of proof showing that England was mainly INVITED into Gaelic lands to HELP them with internal struggles. Interesting how more and more of these examples keep cropping up.

Sweeney clan, anyone?

It's interesting to see the similarities and differences between elite warrior classes around the world. Cultural similarities to knights and samurai, but also major differences.

Any fellow descendants of the MacCabes?

I'm American, but I'm 1/6234.05ths Irish and I'm confident absolutely none of my ancestors were one of these.

I know it's just the intro. I was under the impression a fellow by the name of Clare , assisted the minor king . It was said the King exiled the minor king for seducing wives of nobles .

Wow they have 1066 technology in 14th-16th centuries...

In regards to your conclusion, have you ever looked into the 9 Years War? A key aspect of that particular war was the fact that the Irish Covenanters relied largely on modern European style pike and shot formations over the more traditional Irish troops that the English were used to fighting: this accounted for a number of their successes in the war, which they actually came close to winning at points.

gallowglass ...scottish warrior clans who were in service in ireland and europe.

I’m part Irish from one the top clans in Ireland (clan Osullivan) my clan bearer was donal cam Osullivan beare and we were from southern coastal Ireland, we had a castle in Castletownbear which is a coastal town. And back in the 16th century we were allies with the Spanish and we fought alongside the Spanish against the English at the battle of kinsale, unfortunately we lost badly and then later they sieged our castle named dun boy.

SCOTTISH NOT IRISH.

Sounds similar to Housecarls

Wait, why couldn't they use the Galloglass with the spearmen? Seems like they could have formed at least one unit to fight like the spearmen did? They would have the reach to.

My wife's last name was Macdonald mine was McGill...they dropped the Mc when we got here due to persecution...I guess this explains my families love of war.. my grandfather was a major in the last calvary..my father was a vet of Korea and vietnam

Macbeth Act One

galloglass were scottish warrior clans from scotland, hired to fight the anglo - normans and given land in ireland for their services. then again hired for the battle of knockdoe, then kinsale. scottish redshanks were also hired in the 1500s.

The Gallowglass are from Scotland not from Ireland 😂

Wait, Irish (who spoke Gaelic) called foreigners Galls? That's super weird to me

Similar to the Anglo-Saxon House Carls.

Nicely done! Gotta love a good axe!!

They are actually irish landknechts

Rory O'Connor was a direct ancestor of mine. Long live Ireland, long live the Irish. Ireland for the Irish!

I am from the clan O'Boil and I've been reliably informed by my Irishly drunk uncle that we are decedents of a noble bloodline who were illegally stripped of our lands and clothes and shipped to America because we were too badass. I am directly blood linked to a guy who was really good at hitting people centuries ago.

Never heard of them

😂😂😂😂
They were NOT Irish but Scots Gaels.

Apparently, there were many Galloglass units who were part of a ladies' dowry and there were many lords who would marry women who had Galloglass units as part of their dowries. Very interesting.

I learned about Gallowglas from Skaldic Bard

I get it now….

Would make an awesome series if done correctly