Stitcher: Mary Sloan (Dublin).
The Gallowglass was an elite medieval mercenary warrior. The name derives from the Gaelic for foreign/Norse (gall) soldier (oglach). They were formidable fighters in demand across Scotland and Ireland for their skill, reliability and impact in battle. A true Scottish gallowglass was of mixed Gaelic and Norse heritage, from the western highlands and islands of Scotland which had been long exposed to Norwegian influence. The first to settle in Ireland likely received their land in return for military service, and their numbers could range from small mercenary companies to whole clans such as the MacSweeneys, MacDonnells, and MacCabes. They remained a feature of Irish warfare into the seventeenth century until the widespread use of firearms and cannon.
IE03 Na Gall-òglaich
B’ e gaisgich tuarastail barraichte sna meadhanaoisean a bh’ anns na Gall-òglaich. Tha an t-ainm a’ tighinn bhon Ghàidhlig airson saighdear (òglach) Lochlannach (Gall) B’ e luchd-sabaid aneagalach a bh’ annta air an robh iarrtas mòr air feadh Alba is Èirinn mar thoradh air an sgil, earbsachd agus buaidh sa bhlàr. Bha fìor ghallòglach Albannach de dhualchas measgaichte Gàidhlig is Lochlannach, bho thaobh siar na Gàidhealtachd agus eileanan na h-Alba a bha air a bhith fo bhuaidh nan Lochlannach rè ùine mhòr. Tha coltas ann gun d’ fhuair a’ chiad luchdtuineachaidh ann an Èirinn an cuid fearainn mar dhuais airson seirbheis armailteach, agus dh’fhaodadh na h-àireamhan aca rangachadh bho chompanaidhean beaga tuarastail gu làn chinnidhean leithid MacSweeney, MacDonnell agus MacCabe. Dh’fhuirich iad mar fheart den chogadh Èireannach gus an t-seachdamh linn deug agus a thàinig cleachdadh bitheanta air arman-teine is gunnaichean mòra.