looking for information about Ireland

[commissarmoody]

As the title states, I am looking for info a out medieval Ireland, plan on doing some 11-14 skirmish's. But I have limited info about the era. So books, and novels bout the Norman, Vikings, feuds and other such stuff is welcome.
I orders some gallowglass from clamore castings, and would also like to know more about the warrors of Ireland in this time and any miniature suggestions are also welcome.

[janner]

Do you mean 11th - 14th century?

[commissarmoody]

Yes that is what I meant.

[emperorpenguin]

Can't name any books off the top of my head but start by reading up on Brian Boru and the battle of Clontarf 1014, right at the start of that timeframe

The next major event in Irish history was the invasion by Richard de Clere 'Strongbow' and his Normans in 1169

Ireland at the time was a mix of native Irish kingdoms nominally owing fealty to a High King at Tara. There were many small city-states ruled by the Vikings, such as Dublin and limerick


Crusader Miniatures have a good range of Irish, as do Gripping Beast

[commissarmoody]

Thanks. I shell look into those eras.

[Little Odo]

Also check out novels and sources for William Marshal...
Not much action but some good descriptions of the period in Elizabeth Chadwick's novels about William and his father John.
The non-fiction life of William Marshal by David Crouch is also good for source material.
Anything about the life of King John
A good thing to remember about this period was that there were very few big set-piece battles - there was too much at stake if one lost. Skirmishing and raiding were the order of the day.

[commissarmoody]

Skirmish and raiding is what I am looking for actually. From my readings so far I leaning towards the Anglo-Norman period that seems to cover a little over 300 years of time, before the Bruce, integration and mismanagement drove what was left of England's holdings into the Pale.
They it's on to the Tuders, Williamit wars, so on..etc..etc..
So king John and Strongbow.

[Cubs]

Tim Severin's Viking trilogy has a fictionalised account of the battle of Clontarf. I think it's in the first book, 'Odinn's Child', but I may be wrong. It is a useful guide to the various factions, their background and their reasons for fighting on the sides they did.

[commissarmoody]

Thanks Cubs

[janner]

Gerald of Wales on Ireland might prove interesting, if not entirely reliable 

http://www.yorku.ca/inpar/topography_ireland.pdf

Of Cambro-Norman descent, he is quite rude about the Irish, but it's useful background.

[commissarmoody]

interesting read. Need to find that spring that makes gray hair return to its natural color. 

[janner]

Thank goodness you're not going looking for the poor goat 

[commissarmoody]

Thank goodness you're not going looking for the poor goat 

It must have been a charming goat 

[Arlequín]

It must have been a charming goat 

When you're out there on the windswept moors and bogs of Eire for any length of time, all the goats begin to appear charming.

 

[commissarmoody]

I think that is a commonalty of all herding coulters. 

Ok Back on subject, I have been reading about Kerns and Gallowglass. So light skirmish clouds with the Kerns and with a sold block of Gallowglass Heavy infantry. Were any other warrior types common for the foot in the 13th-14th century time perudes?
 I read that horse boys  and Hobelars were common. So I guess light unarmed cavalry and lightly armored medium cavalry with the Hobelars.

Also I have read that most accounts are not to complementary on the fighting states of the Irish nobility. Would it be common for Irish nobles to be dressed in English or continental Armor? Or would that be the main stay of the mostly Anglo-Irish in the Pale.
I am also guessing that even the well equipped ones would not fight as traditional shock knights and would play a more supporting role and ride into finish off survivors of a winning engament.