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| Gall Ghaeil Lord circa AD 1000 |
During
the reign of Coinneach Mac Ailpín (AD 844-860) a people appeared in
mid Argyll who were closely connected to Norwegian vikings. These people
joined with these vikings on their expeditions and
they were called the Gall Ghaeil. The name itself is a combination of
the word Gall meaning a 'stranger' or 'foreigner.' The second
element in the name is 'Gael' i.e. a Gaelic speaking Celt. Gall-Gael is the anglicised form of the Gaelic term Gall-Ghaeil. They were literally the 'Foreign Gaels.'
Mid
Argyll was the epicentre of Gall Ghaeil society. Later in their history they were
also connected with the Kingdom of Galloway (Dumfries and Galloway, and southern Ayrshire) in present day southwest Scotland. In this area of Scotland they were called the Galwyddel, which is the Cymreag Celtic (Welsh) form of Gall-Ghaeil. There was both a Gaelic and Cumbric component to Gall-Ghaeil society. The Gall Ghaeil were a fascinating part of the history of Old North in the dynamic Viking age.
The
Gall-Ghaeil were generally Celtic in
ethnicity with some Norse admixture. They were influenced by their exposure to Norse vikings.
They essentially became Gaelic Vikings. They adopted Norse accoutrements
of war and shipbuilding. The Gall-Ghaeil developed a strong warrior caste based
society.
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| Gall Ghaeil Lord and warrior circa 1000 AD
In medieval primary sources we are only given negative reports on the Gall Ghaeil for the most part. There are reports of their kings, their raids, and of their employment with Irish chiefs. The Church considered them pagan and condemned them. The Gall Ghaeil were active from the late 9th Century into the 12th Century. The
Gall Ghaeil lived in a twilight world between pagan and Christian,
between Gael and Norse.
Their descendants gave rise to the families and clans
that became the Gallóglaigh and later the Redshanks. Many of these
families and clans migrated to Ireland; the Gallóglaigh circa AD 1300 to
1450 and the Redshanks in the 1500s.
In some cases, Viking was a profession, not an ethnicity. In parts of Argyll, Galloway, and northern Ireland, some Gaels went viking and became Gall-Ghaeil.
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Just finished your wonderful book, "Finding the McCains". My McIntyre family immigrated to Donegal from The Mull of Kintyre, Argyllshire. I really appreciated the history and information about the Redshanks. We lost many McIntyre's at Culloden as well. My first record in Donegal shows up in the 1630 Muster Roll for Inishowen.
ReplyDeleteI have had some amazing, magical experiences in Ireland. Found an obscure stone circle on a windless, sunny day only to see an oncoming whirlwind. It headed right for me and encircled me! I felt no fear just awe and joy. I remembered my late father flying us off the road and across the desert in California to chase down whirlwinds. He was so Irish in his ways. Sparkly eyes and jigged when he was happy. I sure would love to converse with you via email or Facebook. I totally believe in genetic memory. If we talk, I can tell you why. I also dream in battles nearly every night and have an undeniable intuition. I sent you a "Friend Request" on Facebook. My name is Lorrie McIntyre-Graham. Thank you Barry! Love your Blogs too!