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((short description|Class of elite mercenary warriors))
((other uses|Galloglass (disambiguation)|Gallowglass (novel)))
((multiple issues|
((More citations needed|date=March 2011))
((More footnotes|date=March 2011))
))
((Use dmy dates|date=September 2020))

The '''Gallowglass''' (also spelled '''galloglass''', '''gallowglas''' or '''galloglas'''; from ((lang-ga|gallóglaigh)) meaning "foreign warriors") were a class of elite [[mercenary]] [[warrior]]s who were principally members of the [[Norse-Gaels|Norse-Gaelic]] clans of Ireland and Scotland between the [[Scotland in the High Middle Ages|mid 13th century and late 16th century]]. It originally applied to [[Scottish people|Scots]], who shared a common background and language with the [[Irish people|Irish]], but as they were descendants of 10th-century [[Norsemen|Norse]] settlers who had intermarried with the local population in [[Scottish Highlands|western Scotland]], the Irish called them ((lang|ga|Gall Gaeil)) ("foreign Gaels").<ref name=":0">((Cite book |last1=McMahon |first1=Sean |title=Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable |last2=O'Donoghue |first2=Jo |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson |year=2004 |isbn=0304363340 |location=London |pages=324 |language=en))</ref>

[[File:Roscommon St. Mary's Priory Choir Tomb 2014 08 28 crop 2.jpg|thumb|Fifteenth-century sculpted figures of Gallowglass<ref>Halpin; Newman (2006) p. 244; Simms (1998) p. 78; Simms (1997) pp. 111 fig. 5.3, 114 fig. 5.6; Halpin (1986) p. 205; Crawford, HS (1924).</ref> as depicted upon the apparent effigy of [[Felim O'Connor (d. 1265)|Feidhlimidh Ó Conchobhair]], [[List of kings of Connacht|King of Connacht]]<ref>Halpin; Newman (2006) p. 244; Verstraten (2002) p. 11; Crawford, HS (1924).</ref> and father of [[Áed na nGall]], victor of [[Battle of Áth an Chip|the Battle of Connacht]].]]

An early family of gallowglasses was the [[Clan Sweeney|MacSweeneys]], settled by the [[O'Donnell dynasty|O'Donnells]] in north Donegal. These were followed by [[MacDonnell of Antrim|MacDonnells]], [[MacCabe (surname)|MacCabes]] and several other groups settled by powerful Irish nobles in different areas. The gallowglasses were attractive as heavily armoured, trained infantry to be relied upon as a strong defence for holding a position, unlike most Irish foot soldiers, who were less well armoured than the typical Irish noble who fought as cavalry.

They were a significant part of Irish infantry before the advent of [[gunpowder]], and depended upon seasonal employment by [[Chief of the Name|Irish clan chief]]s. An Irish military leader would often choose a gallowglass to serve as his personal aide and bodyguard because, as a foreigner, a gallowglass would be less influenced by the internal feuds over dynastic succession within the [[derbhfine]] of the [[Irish clan]]s.

==Name==
[[Image:Norse-Gael Warrior.PNG|thumb|upright=0.6|A Medieval [[Hebrides|Hebridean]] warrior]]

The [[Irish language]] ''gallóglach'' is derived from ''gall'' "foreign" and ''óglach''; from [[Old Irish]] ''oac'' (meaning "youth") and Old Irish ''lóeg'' (meaning "calf" but later becoming a word for a "hero"). The Old Irish language plural ''gallóglaigh''  is literally "foreign young warriors".(The modern Irish plural is ''galloglagh''.)  

According to the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' (OED), the English language singular, gallowglass, is an [[anglicisation]] of Old Irish plural  ''gallóglaigh'', <ref name="galloglass">((cite web|url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/76340|title=galloglass |work=[[Oxford English Dictionary]]))</ref> rather than the singular. The OED, which prefers the spelling "galloglass", provides examples of various English plural forms, dating back to a ((circa|1515)) use of "galloglasseis". The OED states that the conventional English plural, gallo(w)glasses, is "probably the result" of the duplicate, redundant plural suffix ''-es'' being added to the Irish plural.<ref name="galloglass"/> (The OED notes that while the modern Irish plural ''galloglagh'' appears to be "etymologically correct", it is recorded later than English gallowglasses.) For instance, [[Shakespeare]] uses the form "gallowglasses" in ''[[Macbeth]]''.<ref name=":0" /> The OED adds that "galloglasses is found ... in our earliest quot.", even though "in some early instances", a relatively early, alternate English plural form, ''galloglas'', is also used.<ref name="galloglass"/> Hence, English gallowglass is probably a singularised form, which post-dates the plural, gallowglasses.

==Origin==
The gallowglass were from the western coast of Scotland, principally [[Argyll]] and the [[Hebrides|Western Isles]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=_rvnmfJCGEAC&q=gallowglass Cannan, Fergus. ''Gallowglass 1250–1600'', Osprey Publishing, 2010], ((ISBN|9781846035777)).</ref> Their weapons were swords and axes. Each was usually accompanied by a man to see to his weapons and armour and a boy to carry provisions.

==Description==
A description from 1600 speaks of the gallowglass as "pycked and seelected men of great and mightie bodies, crewell without compassion. The greatest force of the battell consisteth in them, chosinge rather to dye then to yeelde, so that when yt cometh to handy blowes they are quickly slayne or win the feilde".<ref>((cite book | title = Tracts Relating to Ireland | chapter = A Treatise of Ireland | publisher = Irish Archeological Society | volume = ii | place = Dublin | date = 1843 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/tractsrelatingto02irisuoft/page/n21/mode/2up | last = Dymmok | first = John | editor-last = Mac Maoilbrighde | editor-first = Cormacan ))</ref><ref>((cite book | url = https://celt.ucc.ie//published/E590000-001.html | title = A Treatise of Ireland | first = John | last = Dymmok | date = 1599 | via = celt.ucc.ie ))</ref>

==History==
((See also|Norman Ireland))
[[File:Gallowglass gravestone.png|thumb|upright=0.6|Gallowglass gravestone from Cloncha Church, Ireland, circa 15–16th century. Note the [[hurling]] stick and ball.]]
The first record of gallowglass service was in [[1259 in Ireland|1259]], when [[Aedh mac Felim Ó Conchobair|Aedh Ó Conchobair]], [[King of Connacht]], received a dowry of 160 Scottish warriors from the daughter of [[Dubhghall mac Ruaidhri]], the [[Kingdom of the Isles|King of the Hebrides]]. They were organised into groups known as a ''corrughadh'', which consisted of about 100 men.

The importation of gallowglasses into Ireland was a major factor in containing the [[Anglo-Normans|Anglo-Norman]] invasion of the 12th century, as their ranks stiffened the resistance of the Irish lordships. Throughout the [[Middle Ages]] in Ireland, gallowglass troops were maintained by Gaelic Irish and [[Hiberno-Norman]] lords alike. Even the English [[Lord Deputy of Ireland]] usually kept a company of them in his service.

In return for military service, gallowglass contingents were given land and settled in Irish lordships, where they were entitled to receive supplies from the local population.

By 1512, there were reported to be fifty-nine groups throughout the country under the control of the Irish nobility. Though initially they were mercenaries, over time they settled and their ranks became filled with both Scots-Norse and many native Irish men.

In 1569, [[Turlough Luineach O'Neill]] (the O'Neill) married [[Agnes Campbell|Lady Agnes Campbell]], daughter of [[Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll]], and widow of [[James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg]]. Her dowry consisted of at least 1,200 gallowglass fighters. Along with two young men as support and friends on top to assist or fight this could easily have numbered over 5,000 current and future gallowglasses coming into the area.<ref name="Gallowglass">((cite web |url=http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/nextgen/sword-medieval-irish-bastard-xix.htm |title=Gallowglass children in battle))</ref>

They were noted for wielding the massive two-handed [[sparth axe]] (a custom noted by [[Geraldus Cambrensis]], died c. 1223, to have derived from their Norse heritage) and broadsword or [[claymore]] (''claidheamh mór''). For armour, the gallowglass wore a [[mail (armour)|mail]] shirt over a padded jacket and an iron helmet; he was usually accompanied by two boys (like a knight's [[squire]]s), one of whom carried his [[Javelin|throwing spear]]s while the other carried his provisions.

[[Shakespeare]] mentions gallowglasses in ''[[Macbeth]]'', although along with other aspects of the play it is an anachronism, as the [[Macbeth of Scotland|historical Macbeth]] lived in the 11th century:

<blockquote><poem>
The merciless Macdonwald,
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villainies of nature
Do swarm upon him, from the Western isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied
</poem></blockquote>

In the paper "A Description of the Power of Irishmen", written early in the 16th century, the Irish forces of [[Leinster]] are numbered at 522 horses and  five battalions of gallowglass (gallóglaigh) and 1,432 [[Kern (soldier)|kerne]], and those of the other provinces were in like proportion. [[MacCarthy Mór|Mac Cárthaigh Mór]] commanded 40 horses, two battalions of gallowglass, and 2,000 kerne; the [[Earl of Desmond]] 400 horses, three battalions of gallowglass, and 3,000 kerne, besides a battalion of crossbowmen and gunners, the smaller chieftains supplying each their quota of men.

[[Image:Galloglass-circa-1521.jpg|thumb|Irish gallowglass and [[Kern (soldier)|kern]]. Drawing by [[Albrecht Dürer]], 1521. This is now thought to have been derived from a 1518 written account by Laurent Vital, rather than a drawing from life.]]

In 1517, "when the reformacion of the countrye was taken in hand", it was reported that the Irish forces in [[Thomond]] were 750 horses, 2,324 kerne, and six "batayles" of gallowglass, the latter including 60 to 80 footmen harnessed with spears; each of these had a man to bear his harness, some of whom themselves carried spears or bows.

Every kerne had a bow, a "skieve" or quiver, three spears, a sword, and a [[wikt:skean|skene]] or [[Sgian-dubh|sgian]] (Irish ''scian'' or Scottish Gaelic ''sgian''), each two of them having a lad to carry their weapons. The horsemen had two horses apiece, some three, the second bearing the "knave" or his attendant.

The 16th century in Ireland saw an escalation in military conflict, caused by the [[Tudor conquest of Ireland]]. Gallowglass fighters were joined by native Irish mercenaries called ''[[buanadha]]'' (literally "quartered men") and by newer Scottish mercenaries known as "[[redshank (soldier)|redshank]]s". During the [[Desmond Rebellions#First Desmond Rebellion|First Desmond Rebellion]], [[Lord President of Munster]] [[William Drury|Sir William Drury]] ordered the execution of 700 captured gallowglasses.((fact|date=May 2022))

Despite the increased use of firearms in Irish warfare, gallowglasses remained an important part of [[Hugh Ó Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone|Hugh Ó Neill]]'s forces in the [[Nine Years' War (Ireland)|Nine Years' War]]. After the combined Irish defeat at the [[Battle of Kinsale]] in 1601, recruitment of gallowglasses waned, although Scottish Highland mercenaries continued to come to Ireland until the 1640s (notably [[Alasdair Mac Colla]]). They fought under the Irish general [[Owen Roe O'Neill]] at the [[Battle of Benburb]] when O'Neill had an overwhelming victory in 1646. The gallowglasses of the [[MacCarthy Reagh|Mac Cárthaigh Riabhaigh]] are recorded as having attacked [[Mallow, County Cork|Mallow]] in [[County Cork]] as late as 1645.((Citation needed|date=June 2008))

Images of gallowglasses fighting as mercenaries in European mainland armies were sketched by [[Dürer]] in 1521 and later by French and Dutch artists.<ref>((Cite book|title=A history of Ireland|last1=Somerset | first1 = Fiona | last2=Fry | first2= Peter | date=1991|publisher=Routledge |isbn=0415048885|location=London|oclc=22907123))</ref> Gallowglasses served in the [[Dutch Blue Guards]], [[Swiss Guard]], the French [[Garde Écossaise|Scottish Guard]], and the forces of King [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden]] in his invasion of [[Livonia]] during the [[Thirty Years' War]].((Citation needed|date=June 2008))

[[Milford, County Donegal|Millford in County Donegal]], historically called Ballynagalloglagh (from Irish: ''Baile na nGallóglach''), is a small town and townland whose Irish name means "town of the gallowglasses".<ref>((cite web|url = https://www.logainm.ie/15963.aspx| publisher = Placenames Database of Ireland | website = logainm.ie | title = Baile na nGallóglach / Millford | accessdate = 31 May 2021 | quote = the town of the gallowglasses ))</ref> A battle between the Irish (helped by gallóglaigh) and the English took place on a hill in the townland and this is where the name comes from.

==See also==
* [[Úlfhéðnar]]
* [[Fianna]]
* [[Gallogly]], a surname

==References==
((Reflist))

==Sources==
* G. A. Hayes McCoy, ''Irish Battles'', Appletree Press, Belfast, 1990.
* Colm Lennon, ''Sixteenth Century Ireland: The Incomplete Conquest'', Gill & MacMillan, Dublin 1994.
* [http://galloglass.ucc.ie/ The Galloglass Project] (compiled at TCD, placed online at UCC)
((Gaels))

[[Category:Early Modern Ireland]]
[[Category:Gaelic culture]]
[[Category:History of Argyll and Bute]]
[[Category:History of the Outer Hebrides]]
[[Category:History of the Scottish Highlands]]
[[Category:Medieval Ireland]]
[[Category:Mercenary units and formations of the Middle Ages]]
[[Category:Scandinavian Scotland]]
[[Category:Norse-Gaels]]
[[Category:Scottish diaspora]]
[[Category:Scottish mercenaries]]
[[Category:Warriors]]

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