Gallowglass The gallowglass ( also spelt galloglass , gallowglas or galloglas ; from ) were a class of elite mercenary warrior s who were principally members of the Norse - Gaelic clans of Scotland between the mid 13th century and late 16th century . As Scots , they were Gaels and shared a common background and language with the Irish , but as they had intermarried with the 10th century Norse settlers of western Scotland , the Irish called them " Gall Gaeil " ( " foreign Gaels " ) . Large numbers of gallowglass septs settled in Ireland after being dispossessed of their lands in Scotland for choosing the wrong sides in the Wars of Scottish Independence . The first and probably most famous of these were the MacSweeneys , ( who unlike most were said to be of native Irish ancestry ) settled originally by the O ’ Donnells in west Donegal . These were followed by MacDonnells , MacCabes and several other groups settled by powerful Irish nobles in different areas . The gallowglass were attractive as a heavily armoured , trained aristocratic infantry to be relied upon as a strong defence for holding a position , unlike most Irish foot soldiers , who were lower class and less well armoured than the typical Irish noble who fought as cavalry . In time there came to be many native Irish gallowglass as the term came to mean a type of warrior rather than an ethnic designation . They were a significant part of Irish infantry before the advent of gunpowder , and depended upon seasonal service with Irish chieftains . A military leader would often choose a gallowglass to serve as his personal aide and bodyguard because , as a foreigner , the gallowglass would be less subject to local feuds and influences . Name . The term is an anglicisation of the Irish " gallóglaigh " ( lit . " foreign young warriors " ) , with the English plural " - s " added to the end . The singular of " gallóglaigh " is " gallóglach " . The word " óglach " comes from Old Irish " oac " ( meaning " youth " ) and Old Irish " lóeg " ( meaning " calf " but later becoming a word for a hero ) . Encarta specifies the plural of gallowglass to be " gallowglasses " , but this article assumes that the singular and plural terms are both " gallowglass " , as the English term comes from an Irish plural . Shakespeare uses the form " gallowglasses " in the play " Macbeth " . History . The first record of gallowglass service was in 1259 , when Aedh Ó Conchobair , King of Connacht , received a dowry of 160 Scottish warriors from the daughter of the King of the Hebrides . They were organised into groups known as a " Corrughadh " , which consisted of about 100 men . In return for military service , gallowglass contingents were given land and settled in Irish lordships , where they were entitled to receive supplies from the local population . In 1569 Turlough O ' Neill married Lady Agnes MacDonald of Kintyre . Her dowry consisted of at least 1200 galloglass fighters . Along with two young men as support and friends on top to assist or fight this could easily have numbered over 5 , 000 current and future Gallowglass coming into the area . By 1512 , there were reported to be fifty - nine groups throughout the country under the control of the Irish nobility . Though initially they were mercenaries , over time they settled and their ranks became filled with both Scots - Norse and many native Irish men . They were noted for wielding the massive two - handed sparth axe ( a custom noted by Geraldus Cambrensis to have derived from their Norse heritage ) and broadsword or claymore ( " claidheamh mór " ) . For armour , the gallowglass wore mail shirts over padded jackets and iron helmets ; he was usually accompanied by two boys ( like a knight ' s squire s ) , one of whom carried his throwing spear s while the other carried his provisions . Shakespeare mentions gallowglass in his play " Macbeth " , although along with other aspects of the play it is an anachronism , as the historical Macbeth lived in the 11th century : The importation of gallowglass into Ireland was a major factor in containing the Anglo - Norman invasion of the 12th century , as their ranks stiffened the resistance of the Irish lordships . Throughout the Middle Ages in Ireland , gallowglass troops were maintained by Gaelic Irish and Hiberno - Norman lords alike . Even the English Lord Deputy of Ireland usually kept a company of them in his service . ( " See Also : Norman Ireland " ) In a paper entitled " A Description of the Power of Irishmen " , written early in the 16th century , the Irish forces of Leinster are numbered at 522 horse , 5 battalions of gallowglass ( gallóglaigh ) and 1432 kerne , and those of the other provinces were in like proportion . Mac Cárthaigh Mór commanded 40 horse , 2 battalions of gallowglass , and 2000 kerne ; the Earl of Desmond 400 horse , 3 battalions of gallowglass , and 3000 kerne , besides a battalion of crossbowmen and gunners , the smaller chieftains supplying each their quota of men . In 1517 , " when the reformacion of the countrye was taken in hand , " it was reported that the Irish forces in Thomond were 750 horse , 2324 kerne , and 6 " batayles " of gallowglass , the latter including 60 to 80 footmen harnessed with spears ; each of these had a man to bear his harness , some of whom themselves carried spears or bows . Every kerne had a bow , a ' skieve ' or quiver , three spears , a sword , and a skene ( Irish " scian " or Scottish Gaelic " sgian " ) , each two of them having a lad to carry their weapons . The horsemen had two horses apiece , some three , the second bearing the ' knave ' or his attendant . The 16th century in Ireland saw an escalation in military conflict , caused by the Tudor conquest of Ireland . Gallowglass fighters were joined by native Irish mercenaries called " buanadha " ( literally " quartered men " ) and by newer Scottish mercenaries known as " redshanks " . The flow of mercenaries into Ireland was such a threat to English occupation that Queen Elizabeth I took steps against them in 1571 – around 700 of them were executed after the first of the Desmond Rebellions . Despite the increased use of firearms in Irish warfare , gallowglass remained an important part of Hugh Ó Neill ' s forces in the Nine Years War . After the combined Irish defeat at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 , recruitment of gallowglass waned , although Scottish Highland mercenaries continued to come to Ireland until the 1640s ( notably Alasdair Mac Colla ) . They fought under the Irish General Eoin Roe O ' Neill at the Battle of Benburb when O ' Neill had an overwhelming victory in 1646 . The Gallowglass of the Mac Cárthaigh Riabhaigh are recorded as having attacked Mallow in County Cork as late as 1645 . Images of Gallowglass fighting as mercenaries in European mainland armies were sketched by Dürer in 1521 and later by French and Dutch artists . Gallowglass served in the Dutch Blue Guards , Swiss Guard , The French Scottish Guard and the forces of King Gustav Adolphus of Sweden in his invasion of Livonia during the Thirty Years War .