Irish Feudal Armies Miniatures

[MiniPigs]

For the period 1200-1300, is it best to use Dark Ages Irish or use Vikings (or blend Vikings with Dark Ages Irish) or even use slightly later Irish such as the Antediluvian or Perry Irish?

Some other option I hadn't considered?

[Atheling]

For the period 1200-1300, is it best to use Dark Ages Irish or use Vikings (or blend Vikings with Dark Ages Irish) or even use slightly later Irish such as the Antediluvian or Perry Irish?

Some other option I hadn't considered?

The Antediluvian Irish are taken directly from the Durer print made in the early-ish 16th CE:


The Perry Models are good for early 1400's to the late 1600's.

Basically neither are suitable for the period you have mentioned.

I don't know much about the evolution of the Irish soldier from the so called "Dark Ages" to the 1200-1300's but if you contact OB on this forum he might be able to help 

[Koyote]

Check out Perry Miniatures and Antediluvian Miniatures.

[Atheling]

Check out Perry Miniatures and Antediluvian Miniatures.

They're not good for the period Minipigs specified. Having said that, I'm not really sure what is 

[MiniPigs]

My feeling is that the Irish would've been rougher versions of the Vikings, maybe more Bondi than huscarl with some gallowglasses thrown in. I dont know if they continued to use Viking patterns on shield or more Christian/Gaelic pattterns.


 On a side note:
Seems like some of the Arthurian, Dark Age Irish and Dark Ages Picts figures might be handy for Welsh circa 1250 with Viking/Saxon shields substituting for whatever the figures come with.

[commissarmoody]

You might not be too far off there. This is a photo from a osprey on the Subject. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/733031276822767432/

Probably a mix of earlier and later light troops. And some Isles men to represent the old Viking/Scottish influence.
Of course, I am not an expert or well studied in that era.

[v_lazy_dragon]

Given that the Irish in the Elizabethan period had long tunics and chainmail, much the same as they had in the dark ages, I would assume that the period inbetween was much the same too!
For both light & heavy troops I'd mix some of the more generic later guys with dark ages Irish, possibly with some head and shield swops to replace anything that would date them too much either way.

[carlos marighela]

I have the genesis of yet another side project in train, the Cambro-Norman invasion of Ireland. In the absence of anything specific, I’ve decided to go with the Wargames Atlantic Dark Age Irish as the core. The relevant chapter in A Military History of Ireland suggests little change in the dress, weaponry and tactics so, they’re good enough for me and I got a box second hand for a decent price.

A Military History of Ireland suggests that fighting styles had not significantly changed and that the bulk of Irish Armies in the early to mid Medieval period were very lightly armed and equipped. Vikings they were not. They could be an elite, armed and equipped with mail, hemets and axes but this would be the retinue of a leader or paid mercenaries.

I’m intending to mix in some Islemen as hired troops as these were present as mercenary troops. Eureka do a range. I’m also planning on using some of their Norse-Irish as leaders retinues and the levy spearmen to bulk out the more common troop types. Largely because I like the sculpts.

[Atheling]

The Osprey Galloglass 1250-1600: Gaelic Mercenary Warrior, Fergus Cannan has a few details about Irish armies from the 1250AD (Link Below Image):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Galloglass-1250-1600-Gaelic-Mercenary-Warrior/dp/1846035775/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3O0Z0NAYLLP6B&keywords=galloglass+osprey&qid=1648640535&sprefix=galloglass+osprey%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1

[OB]

This image may be of interest.

[Codsticker]

I think some of the Footsore Miniatures Dar Ages Welsh from their recent Kickstarter could be employed. They are still fulfilling their Kickstarter orders (I received mine on Friday) and then they will be available in the store.

[Atheling]

I've been planning on using many of these miniatures for a the Battle of Hereford 1055. It feels like I've been waiting for some  miniatures suitable for the 11th Century Welsh since the Warhammer Ancient Battles Shieldwall supplement was published way back in 2002!! 

[carlos marighela]

Of course if they’ve been accurately depicted, the Welsh will have one leg shorter than the other.

[Atheling]

Of course if they’ve been accurately depicted, the Welsh will have one leg shorter than the other.

I suppose all wargames miniatures are in some sense a caricature of what they might have loo0ked like in reality.

[carlos marighela]

Don’t get me wrong, those Footsore chaps look like lovely sculpts and very tempting. My one beef would be with the vaulting slinger. Fabulous figure as it is I doubt many folk would fancy a quarter of their slingers to be doing gymnastics. Maybe there will be more packs to come?