Gallowglass: The Viking-Scot Mercenaries of Ireland - History Dose
video description
Date: 2022-09-15
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 19
ranica47
Am I the only one who thinks some of the info and dates are a bit, well, off? The O' Neills and O' Donnells rose up in the late 16th century long after the gallowglasses had ceased to be a going concern. I always thought they initially came to prominence after Robert the Bruce achieved independence for Scotland therefore the Scots were able to develop their own heavily armed infantry. Since they saw a kinship with Ireland mane plied their trade there most especially with Robert's brother Edward who brought an army of them to Ireland winning a few big victories before eventually succumbing (some say drunkeness was a factor in their defeat. Edward was known as the last king of Ireland - self declared. I find it weird that there is NO mention of the Bruces in this video, instead kind of vague references to battles with no real dates given and some stirring landscapes and drawings to lend it gravitas. Very short on real detail, poor.
reply
Am I the only one who thinks some of the info and dates are a bit, well, off? The O' Neills and O' Donnells rose up in the late 16th century long after the gallowglasses had ceased to be a going concern. I always thought they initially came to prominence after Robert the Bruce achieved independence for Scotland therefore the Scots were able to develop their own heavily armed infantry. Since they saw a kinship with Ireland mane plied their trade there most especially with Robert's brother Edward who brought an army of them to Ireland winning a few big victories before eventually succumbing (some say drunkeness was a factor in their defeat. Edward was known as the last king of Ireland - self declared. I find it weird that there is NO mention of the Bruces in this video, instead kind of vague references to battles with no real dates given and some stirring landscapes and drawings to lend it gravitas. Very short on real detail, poor.
reply
Taylor
So true yet by the middle of the 1300s the majority of new Gallowglass recruits were Irish natives of ancient Gaelic bloodlines, those who underwent years of serious, savage & strenuous training under the watchful eyes & tutelage of hardened & grizzled Scottish Highland Gallowglass Captains (such training was amongst the most rigorous & ruthless in all of Europe, really brutal & intense as it was.
Therefore by 1400 the vast majority of Gallowglass Mercenary ranks were comprised of those whose family roots in Ireland went back way before the first waves of Hebridean Norse Gaelic Gallowglass troops began arriving to serve the various Irish chieftains & warlords in the mid 13th Century.
The Western European Samurai of the era 1250-1600. the Gallowglass (whether Irish or Norse Hebridean Scots. Ferocious!
reply
So true yet by the middle of the 1300s the majority of new Gallowglass recruits were Irish natives of ancient Gaelic bloodlines, those who underwent years of serious, savage & strenuous training under the watchful eyes & tutelage of hardened & grizzled Scottish Highland Gallowglass Captains (such training was amongst the most rigorous & ruthless in all of Europe, really brutal & intense as it was.
Therefore by 1400 the vast majority of Gallowglass Mercenary ranks were comprised of those whose family roots in Ireland went back way before the first waves of Hebridean Norse Gaelic Gallowglass troops began arriving to serve the various Irish chieftains & warlords in the mid 13th Century.
The Western European Samurai of the era 1250-1600. the Gallowglass (whether Irish or Norse Hebridean Scots. Ferocious!
reply
Silly
Fantastic work! My father is from Limerick and we can trace our lineage very clearly up to our Gallowglass beginnings (Mac Sithig. One of our ancestors was even a mercenary aide de camp to Napoleon (Though died at Austerlitz. Gallowglass are severely slept on when it comes to any historical spotlight, thank you for taking the time to put this together so others can learn!
Additional fun fact: Gallowglass would often take acreage and livestock as payment instead of gold which is why so many clans became well established in Ireland after coming over from Scotland.
reply
Fantastic work! My father is from Limerick and we can trace our lineage very clearly up to our Gallowglass beginnings (Mac Sithig. One of our ancestors was even a mercenary aide de camp to Napoleon (Though died at Austerlitz. Gallowglass are severely slept on when it comes to any historical spotlight, thank you for taking the time to put this together so others can learn!
Additional fun fact: Gallowglass would often take acreage and livestock as payment instead of gold which is why so many clans became well established in Ireland after coming over from Scotland.
reply
Robert
It's great to see such quality content about the Galloglass being created. The artwork is this video is incredible. I recently had a short story published in Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Pulp Sword and Sorcery Issue 5 titled, 'Hungry Ghosts' that was inspired by the Galloglass. It's available for free online for anyone who is interested. I plan on writing a whole collection of short stories eventually. I highly recommend the Osprey book, 'Galloglass 12501600' for people who are keen to learn more about these fascinating warriors.
reply
It's great to see such quality content about the Galloglass being created. The artwork is this video is incredible. I recently had a short story published in Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Pulp Sword and Sorcery Issue 5 titled, 'Hungry Ghosts' that was inspired by the Galloglass. It's available for free online for anyone who is interested. I plan on writing a whole collection of short stories eventually. I highly recommend the Osprey book, 'Galloglass 12501600' for people who are keen to learn more about these fascinating warriors.
reply
Optic
The Scottish Gallowglass where a mixture of ancient Pict, fused with Highlanders and Vikings the most fearsome warriors in Europe they fought at Louden Hill and Bannock Burn along with the Knights Templar against the English Kings these guys where the first Special Forces formed and created in the Highlands of Scotland and we in England have respect for those ancient warriors
reply
The Scottish Gallowglass where a mixture of ancient Pict, fused with Highlanders and Vikings the most fearsome warriors in Europe they fought at Louden Hill and Bannock Burn along with the Knights Templar against the English Kings these guys where the first Special Forces formed and created in the Highlands of Scotland and we in England have respect for those ancient warriors
reply
Jack
The place where the Earl of Desmond was executed is right outside my hometown of Tralee. You can walk through the valley, called Glanageenty, where the Earl hid for months before his location was given away. A sad reality of being a tribal nation is that we were often too willing to sell each other out, failing to see the Anglo-apocalypse creeping up on us.
reply
The place where the Earl of Desmond was executed is right outside my hometown of Tralee. You can walk through the valley, called Glanageenty, where the Earl hid for months before his location was given away. A sad reality of being a tribal nation is that we were often too willing to sell each other out, failing to see the Anglo-apocalypse creeping up on us.
reply
InGrindWeCrust2010
I would be careful to give the black and white labels of English and Irish during these centuries. The Norman English invaders were hardly contained in the Pale, and held most of modern day Leinster and Munster. Several had intermarried with Gaelic families. Many also conscripted Gaels to fight in their armies for the bulk of their soldiery.
reply
I would be careful to give the black and white labels of English and Irish during these centuries. The Norman English invaders were hardly contained in the Pale, and held most of modern day Leinster and Munster. Several had intermarried with Gaelic families. Many also conscripted Gaels to fight in their armies for the bulk of their soldiery.
reply
Nine
This guy's content is fantastic. However I feel like stabbing myself listening to him speak in such a slow and monotone voice. So for others that feel the same way you can do what I did and listen to him at 1. 25 the playback speed. Not all of us are stoned and/or have comprehension issues that need such slow speed delivery.
reply
This guy's content is fantastic. However I feel like stabbing myself listening to him speak in such a slow and monotone voice. So for others that feel the same way you can do what I did and listen to him at 1. 25 the playback speed. Not all of us are stoned and/or have comprehension issues that need such slow speed delivery.
reply
Real_James
When you mentioned MacSweeney my jaw dropped. My grandmother was a Sweeney and Ive traced our family as far back as 1500s Scotland with some degree of certainty but 1600s Donegal, Ireland for certain. Their story is pretty crazy. Ive been trying to find books that talk about clan Sweeney if anyone has recommendations.
reply
When you mentioned MacSweeney my jaw dropped. My grandmother was a Sweeney and Ive traced our family as far back as 1500s Scotland with some degree of certainty but 1600s Donegal, Ireland for certain. Their story is pretty crazy. Ive been trying to find books that talk about clan Sweeney if anyone has recommendations.
reply
Alex
The Gallowglasses were Scottish and living in the western isles not Irish until atleast 120 years after they came to prominence as mercenary warriors and largelg moved to northern ireland
Scotland and Ireland are blood brothers but not the same
reply
The Gallowglasses were Scottish and living in the western isles not Irish until atleast 120 years after they came to prominence as mercenary warriors and largelg moved to northern ireland
Scotland and Ireland are blood brothers but not the same
reply
DangerMouse
This is very interesting. I only know of the Gallowglass through the Tales of the Bard. A fantasy series by Michael Scott. Himself an author of Irish folk tales, so perhaps no surprise he would inject them as a fantasy race.
reply
This is very interesting. I only know of the Gallowglass through the Tales of the Bard. A fantasy series by Michael Scott. Himself an author of Irish folk tales, so perhaps no surprise he would inject them as a fantasy race.
reply
Bug
HA HA!
Turns out I'm 38% Norwiegen 13% Finnish 34% Scottish!
I may only be 5'10 but my brother, uncles and nephews are all over 6'.
Heh, maybe thats they are/were airforce/navy, but I had to go USMCR.
reply
HA HA!
Turns out I'm 38% Norwiegen 13% Finnish 34% Scottish!
I may only be 5'10 but my brother, uncles and nephews are all over 6'.
Heh, maybe thats they are/were airforce/navy, but I had to go USMCR.
reply
owen
Scotland Ireland and England, history steeped in blood. sad thing there are some today who would kill and maim their own countrymen because the accident of birth dictated which way you thought
reply
Scotland Ireland and England, history steeped in blood. sad thing there are some today who would kill and maim their own countrymen because the accident of birth dictated which way you thought
reply
Jamie
My mothers surname translates to Gallowglass, I knew it meant son/daughter of a mercenary but I never knew the history behind it. Always great to learn a bit about your lineage
reply
My mothers surname translates to Gallowglass, I knew it meant son/daughter of a mercenary but I never knew the history behind it. Always great to learn a bit about your lineage
reply
steamy
All the stuff that the English did to the irish that was mentioned in this video (and more) as they tried to exterminate them is the reason I historically despise the english
reply
All the stuff that the English did to the irish that was mentioned in this video (and more) as they tried to exterminate them is the reason I historically despise the english
reply
VenomLink
My in-laws are descendants of the ODonnell clan (they still have its surname. Their DNA tests revealed that they were all at least half Norwegian, Icelandic, and German.
reply
My in-laws are descendants of the ODonnell clan (they still have its surname. Their DNA tests revealed that they were all at least half Norwegian, Icelandic, and German.
reply
Christopher
The MacSween/MacSweeney clan are so prominent because they were descended from Viking settlers in Western Scotland, from the Norse Svein/Swein
reply
The MacSween/MacSweeney clan are so prominent because they were descended from Viking settlers in Western Scotland, from the Norse Svein/Swein
reply
Paul
They were Norman conquerors in the 12th century. French speaking & servants of the Pope. The Elizabethan English had one goal. to stop the Spanish.
reply
They were Norman conquerors in the 12th century. French speaking & servants of the Pope. The Elizabethan English had one goal. to stop the Spanish.
reply
yakup
For centuries the great rome was not occupied, but the broken-ass vikings did, which is very sad, because with 2 celtic worlds left as specimens.
reply
For centuries the great rome was not occupied, but the broken-ass vikings did, which is very sad, because with 2 celtic worlds left as specimens.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
