Topic summary
Gallowglasses
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Gallowglass.
History
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 gallowglasses (gallóglaigh) and 1,432 kerne, and those of the other provinces were in like proportion. Mac Cárthaigh Mór commanded 40 horses, two battalions of gallowglasses, and 2,000 kerne; the Earl of Desmond 400 horses, three battalions of gallowglasses, and 3,000 kerne, besides a battalion of crossbowmen and gunners, the smaller chieftains supplying each their quota of men.