Medieval Scottish dress

Immigrants from Ireland

During Roman times and especially after the Romans have left Britain, the Irish people came across the Irish Sea in curraghs as raiders. The romanized Britons especially in Wales therefore didn't have much love for their gaelic neighbours. They called them scoti which means raiders according to some.

Perhaps beginning in the 4th century but at least beginning in the 7th century the scoti stayed eastwards the sea and settled in Argyll. During the beginning Viking raids during the 8th and 9th century they more and more got hold of Scottish sole.

Within the 10th century they got superior about the Picts and the now known division of Scotland appeared. The Norse had taken the Hebudes and Northern Scotland, few Britons held out in Gallway and the Angle-Saxons lived in the Lowlands.

From this point in time until now the Scottish-Gaelic stayed one people. They had cultural interchanges with many other cultures in Scotland, England, Ireland and even in France but there wasn't any major immigration of foreign peoples.

The Celtic-Christian Church

Beginning with the 5th century the Irish went more and more Christian. This process was not ad hoc, they didn't get Christian by force and they went Christian nearly without influence of the Holy See in Rome. Because of these reasons they developed their own interpretation of Christian values with many celtic influences. The development was mainly monastic driven and focussed on contemplation.

This celtic way of Christianity was forced back in many steps and ended in the last decades of the 12th century.

Viking raids

Beginning around 800 the Norse Vikings entered the Irish Sea with their at this point unbeatable fleet and war-power. Firstly they came, raided and went away again. Yet beginning around 900 they stayed in Ireland at Dubh Linn and they stayed in the Hebudes and the Orkneys. They mixed up with gaelic folk and became Gall Gaels - partly Galls (foreigners) and partly Gael. The Anglo-Saxons stayed foreigners for all the years and the Irish sources did not even mention Lindisfarne being burned because it was an Anglo-Saxon monastery.

The Kingdom of Scotland

Beginning with Kenneth mac Alpin the Scottish people were one kingdom. Unfortunately the kings of Scotland happened to be Lowlanders in the described period. Depictions of kings like in the Kelso Charta therefore cannot help us in understanding how the gaelic people looked alike. Reading documents like Ailred de Rievaulx' description of the Battle of the Standard we learn that there was much of a difference. He describes the Highlanders as if they were rude barbarians coming directly from Stone Age.

Norman invasion

After the Norman invasion of England in 1066 the higher ranks within England, Wales and Scotland have been driven out of their positions fast. During the 12th century we only find norman nobles in leading positions. For Highland scots it made not much of a difference because the Normans simply replaced the Anglo-Saxons as the leading group.

The Crusades

There is evidence that Scottish-Gaels participated in the Crusades wearing their country-specific clothing. They were called barbarian again, had a strong belief in god and were not much help in combat.

Irish Kern Dress ~400-1200

The irish upper class as described in the old tales and depicted in the Book of Kells and on St. Maedoc's Shrine wore the brat-and-léine style.

The léine is a tunic worn as sole garment upon the skin. It is usually made of linen and long and slender with long slender arms. Often it is draped over a belt and worn short. The rogart shirt is an example of this type of shirt. Silken léine are described and woollen léine are probable. Linen cannot be dyed very well, so most of them were probably of it's natural color or bleached. Mostly they are described in bright colors and from later times it is known that the irish liked to color it yellow with saffron but some other light colors are possible as well.

There have been léine with a hood but they stayed remarkable.

The léine is worn in this form until ~1450.

We know not much about a belt but it must have been commonplace. There are few beautifully plated belt-kits (Armagh, Man) that can be used as a source of inspiration. It is probable that the Irish Kern wore a pouch with a comb in it at the belt. From other cultures we can imagine that there was a knife as well. More is not known.

Over the léine the Irish (and the Scottish) wore a brat. This is a (probably) rectangular piece of cloth worn over the shoulders. In earlier times (until ~1000) it was fastened with a brooch onto the breast. Later there are not brooches anymore. The brat was probably made of stripes of cloth sewed together parallel to the shoulders. There have been striped brats or brats with fringes but they were separately mentioned. More often there were borders in a different color. In the ancient irish sagas one can find lots of descriptions - the people were even recognized by the combination of colors they wore. Cross-striped brats in a tartan style are not mentioned. They must have been developed between 1100 and 1300.

We cannot say how much material a brat is. The depicted ones are rather small but there must have been huge ones (five-folded, dragging the ground). In my opinion they should be big enough to serve as a blanket for sleeping, and could be as big as one could afford.

Brooches were found until ~1000. Until 800 there were the beautifully styled Irish brooches with enamel, inlaid stones and gold and silver. They were usually penannular (open at one side). Only the royal golden brooches were closed. After 900 only the simple thistle brooches can still be found. Being much smaller they perhaps had another purpose than to close the brat. After 1000 no brooches can be found until around 1300 annular (closed) brooches came to Scotland as an English import.

Usually the Irish and Scots were described as barelegged and barefooted. But there is evidence for shoes. In the book of Kells you can find Lukas Type 1 shoes and there has been a law in Ireland to wear shoes. In Scotland there is written evidence around 1300 for simple brogues made of one piece of raw hide like the pictish shoe (~800) or later rivlings.

Usually the Irish and Scots were bareheaded as well. In one source there is evidence for an Irish hat and there is one finding in the 15th century. For me it seems they wore long hear and long beard - and a fur cap when it's to grim.

In wartimes the Irish Kern was equipped with a shield, two spears and a sword. From the book of Kells we know of a small buckler but large shields with big buckles are mentioned as well. Probably the shield had one handle - the two handled targe seems to be a later development (perhaps 13th century). The spears had small points and a butt, they were mostly javelins but larger two handed spears were described, too. The sword has been probably a large late-celtic sword. The Irish wore still bronze swords when they fought against the viking invaders. In the 12th century this is not mentioned anymore.

To the Irish warrior it is deemed faint-hearted to wear armour. Probably they sometimes still wore nothing but a torque in the 12th century. On the other hand there is description of armour and helmet in the eldest sagas. Multiple waxed tunics have been worn as protection against blows. Chainmail is mentioned. The helmets developed from a late-celtic type to a bascinet style in 1400. It seems they never had a nasal protection.

In the 15th century the Irish still had no stirrups and the cavalry carried the spear over instead of under the arm. In early times the Irish had chariots. When they omitted this habit is unknown but probably before 800.

Irish Peasant Dress ~400-1450

The Irish (and probably Scottish) peasant and charioteer wore a distinct type of clothing not mentioned often. In nordic sources it is called a dress of light clothes. They wore tight fitting trowsers (hose and breeches sewn together, trews) and a kind of jacket (ionar).

The trews were sometimes short up to the knee but mostly with a ribband under the foot-soles. There are findings with complete foot-parts. At the leg the cloth was rotated 45° for more comfort (cut on the bias). The legs were sewn with a visible seam at the back. Above the legs the cloth was used straight.

The trews in the 15th century were of checkered wool - about earlier trews we do know nothing.

The ionar seems to be originally a kind of brat with arms and has been hold together with a belt. In the book of Kells you can see some examples worn with a léine - nearly not to distinguish from a brat. In one case even worn with an additional brat.

Until 1400 it developed to a jacket with buttons and coattail like seen on a depiction in the Scotichronicon. Sometimes it seems still to be worn with a brat or an Irish mantle.

After the brat-and-léine style came out of use even the nobility wore this style.

The above mentioned Irish mantle is a pure irish development from about 1300 on. It has not been worn in Scotland. The Irish mantle was a heavily sewed object with fur and a hood. Even the french nobility imported this object.

The saffron shirt ~1450-1600

The saffron shirt was a huge yellow léine with long arms. It was worn with a jacket with open sleeves.

This development seems to be in use in Ireland and Scotland and is better described elsewhere. The period is too late for this analysis.

The belted plaid ~1550-1750

The belted plaid cannot be dated before 1500. It is a pure scottish development and seems to be in connection to the Tudor campaign in Ireland. The Irish saffron fields were demolished and the whole interchange between Ireland and Scotland stopped. The Irish lost their own way of living and were oppressed to adopt the English way. Scotland therefore developed it's own style based on the Gall-Gael people of the Hebudes.

The tunic (léine)

The léine was the everyday dress of the celtic upperclass from ancient times. Being similar to the tunic worn over all Europe it is still worn today - as a t-shirt. The cut has been changed during the times but it was always recognized as the same garment. The roman tunic in general has been a wide rectangular piece of cloth sewn together at the sides.

The rogart shirt (14th century Scotland) is still based on this pattern. It is narrower and has sleeves, but the body is still without wedges like shown at the right.

Comparing this finding with depictions e.g. in the Book of Kells we can assume that the pattern is unchanged during the relevant times. The length varies from ankle-length to knee-length and it is mostly worn chopped over a belt. So in the end it may have been oversized in some cases.

If you have to work or run with it, it is too small around the knees. This can easily be solved by chopping it further up - in this case you can very well work in water because your clothing stays dry.

The sleeve in the Rogart shirt is divided in an upper and a lower part. The same pattern you can find at the Killery Dress - there is even an angle between the upper and the lower part. In my opinion there is no reason for this but we cannot know. In the depictions you can find no evidence of a seam in this place.

The lower part of the tunic is often decorated. It can be embroidered like in Breac Maedhoc (~1200) or simply enclosed with another piece of cloth like Book of Kells (~900) . We find unembroidered tunics, too, like (ibid.) .

The arm openings are usually embroidered in the same way.

There are different forms of head openings. We can find rectangular and triangular forms in one picture. There a round forms and heart-shaped ones. There are embroidered and enclosed samples - and there are simple ones.

Men: Book of Kells (~900) .

These examples are all from Book of Kells but unfortunately the head openings aren't described and depicted very well elsewhere.

The type of cloth used is somewhat unclear. We can read of silken tunics - but they are the exception. Usually they are described as being linen (according to léine) - but in French léine means wool and the rogart shirt is made of course brown wool. The tunics are often richly colored and to dye linen is very difficult and probably has not been possible in medieval times - but the saffron shirt in the 15th century has been a linen shirt.

In the end we do not know. They léine was probably mostly made of linen or wool. Probably depending on status and on the weather. Dark colored léine were surely wool or silk, light colored léine could have been linen.

We find plain cloths, but we can find cloths in different decorations. There is evidence for diamond twill in the Book of Kells, and we can find several examples of three-dot decoration: Book of Kells (~900) . At Breac Maedhoc (~1200) the tunic seems to be lined and at St. Gallen Codex 51 (780) it has dots all over. Surely most of the tunics have been plain because of the immense amount of work for a full decoration.

In the written sources we can find tunics with a hood attached to it - but they must have been an exception.

In general we find a simple slender tunic with narrow sleeves. It usually is made from linen or wool and is worn with different head openings. There can be decoration but it depends on status. The length varies and the tunic is usually worn chopped over a belt.

The belt (crios)

There is nearly no evidence for belts but we know that they were worn daily. In case you wear trews you'll find the necessity to wear a second invisible belt for the trowsers.

There are few findings of belt decorations (Armagh, Isle of Man). These were worn on leather belts but it is not known whether they were Irish or Nordic.

In the 14th manuscript Book of Ballymote we find Noah wearing jacket and belt:

It seems to be a usual belt with dot patterns. He is wearing it in a specially knotted way like we see throughout Europe in these later times. Obviously the pin does not pierce the belt.

The Irish wore belts made of leather or (probably) tablet-woven - but how they were looking like and how they were worn, we do not know. The Aran-type belts we see today as traditional seem to be a later pattern.

The plaid (brat)

The Irish and Scottish wore a simple plaid as a form of mantle throughout the times - just like other peoples did and do. They even wore other overgarments (jacket/ionar and irish mantle) but the plaid stayed in use until the Scots started to wear it belted.

In early times the plaid obviously was closed with a brooch at the breast and depending on status it was huge and richly decorated. We can read several descriptions in the old sagas but we have no depiction of this.

Beginning with the Book of Kells we can find no brooches and even pins can only be supposed. But we can estimate the size to about 2,50m length and 1,50m breadth:

Assuming a historically correct breadth of cloths of about 80cm they have to be sewn together. The striping in some examples leads to the assumption that the pieces have been sewn together lengthwise.

There is a problem in recreating this: If we cut cloths we cannot get something like the historic selvedge. The selvedges could have been sewn together without any obvious seam. This is not possible if you cut the cloth! An idea could be to use a modern breadth and to set ornamental seams at the place where the pieces would have been sewn together historically.

The brat is usually made of wool. In later times there is evidence for silken brats - but it has been very unusual. McClintock states the scottish wool is finer than the irish so there could have been a difference in quality. In general we can assume that it has been homespun and homewoven fabric. There have been famous brats from special regions in the irish sagas (e.g. Aran), but we cannot know in which way they have been special.

We can find the brat in every color and often they have been edged in a different color. There are decorated brats like the above mentioned stripes but they stayed unusual. It is to be expected that the richness of the brat depended strongly on status. In the old sagas the nobles where recognized by the colors they wore.

We find striped or even checkered patterns but we can find no evidence for tartan patterns. The allusion to french tiretaine leads to the assumption that the first tartans were imported from France. In this case they probably never reached Ireland and they reached Scotland not before the Auld Alliance (1295). Concerning the development of the Saffron Shirt we should not wear tartan with the brat-and-léine style.

Shoes (bróga)

One the one hand we find a description of the Scots being barefooted and one the other hand we find an Irish law to wear shoes. In conclusion most of the people didn't wear shoes at all.

I am no expert in shoes (walking barefoot) but they seem to have been worn simple shoes from one piece like pampooties (or ghillies, perhaps laced) or like the Irish Lukas Type shoes (Carlson, ~2000) . Turnshoes have probably not been worn by the Irish and the Scots.

The easiest way is to walk barefoot or to put together a simple shoe from one piece of raw hide with the fur on the outside. Very comfortable are double shoes with a sheepskin on the inside - it is improbable to assume that they didn't have had this idea.

The jacket (ionar)

It is difficult to find any evidence about the jacket in the early sources. In the Táin we can find a reference to a dress for charioteers and in the Book of Kells we can find a first depiction of a warrior wearing a jacket.

late medieval ollamh righ

The irish mantle (matail)

development from poncho style in Book of Kells to kappa style in Gerald of Wales to Irish mantle.

Hood

Finding in Scotland (6th century), Gerald (1180) mentions hoods, Art mac Murrough (1400) wears a hood

Hat or cap

Mentioned in Norse saga wears an Irish hat, finding ~1450, rest is unclear

Armour

Many pitched or waxed tunics (Táin), no armour just linen tunics (Cogadh Gael Re Gall), Actun/Cotun/Gambeson with the Gallowglasses (13th -15th century) with Art mac Murrough (1400)

Weapons

Javelins and swords (during all times), long axes (Gerald 1180)

Shields

Small bucklers (mostly), great shield (Táin), wicker shields (mentioned up to 16th century)

Contemporary Findings

Ashaig Strap End

This strap end was found in a rabbit burrow at the old chapel site of Ashaig on Skye. It is copper alloy, decorated on both sides with pellet, interlace and foliate based designs. The decoration suggests an 11th century date. It is a rare survival of medieval objects of this nature in the Highlands. The strap end would have been attached to the end of a belt or strap, perhaps for clothing or perhaps for a book strap. It shows medieval use of this site, reinforcing C-14 dates of some pits which have also shown evidence of medieval metalworking from the 13th century.

Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands. (2012, February 1). Medieval strap end from Ashaig. Highland Historic Environment Record MHG18619. Retrieved (about 2015), from http://www.archhighland.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=104.

Medieval Annular brooches from Speyside

These two bronze annular (ring) brooches are recent finds from Castle Grant near Grantown and Nethy Bridge on upper Speyside. Both are decorated with lines and geometric ornament, with the larger from Castle Grant still preserving its pin. They probably date to around the 13th century. The decoration on the tiny brooch from Nethy Bridge is paralleled on several finds from Easter Ross and down into Aberdeenshire, and perhaps represents a regional style.

Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands. (2012, January 4). Medieval Annular brooches from Speyside. Treasure Trove report for TT.70/06, available in Inverness Museum. Shiels, Jenny and Campbell, Stuart 2011. 'Sacred and banal: the discovery of everyday medieval material culture,' in E.T. Cowan and L. Henderson (eds), A History of Everyday Life in Medieval Scotland 1000-1600, pp. 71-2. Glenn, Virginia2003. Romanesque & Gothic. Decorative metalwork and ivory carvings in the Museum of Scotland. (showing examples of silver annular brooches) Retrieved (about 2015), from http://www.archhighland.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=98.

Shoe from Perthshire, Scotland

7th or 8th century leather shoe from [the excavations of Dunduin,]Perthshire, Scotland

M. E. Riley. (1997). Clothing of the Ancient Celts. http://www47.pair.com/lindo/Textiles_Page.htm. Saved from loss by Internet Archive. http://web.archive.org/web/20011205114653/http://www47.pair.com/lindo/Textiles_Page.htm. Copy available at sorgs.de.

Annaholty Bog Shoe

A leather shoe found in Annaholty Bog on the border of Co. Limerick Co. Tipperary and dating to the eleventh or twelfth century. It is a well preserved example of a shoe type found in urban centres in Ireland and across Europe during the Viking Age.

Shane OBrien. (2018, September 8). Newport & Castleconnell Bog. https://www.facebook.com/onthebog/posts/a-leather-shoe-found-in-annaholty-bog-on-the-border-of-co-limerick-co-tipperary-/494578404391794/.

This shoe was the subject of a find report for TVAS in 2008. Although the shoe is called after its find location, it is typical of a style of footwear which was widespread in Ireland in the medieval period, especially in urban centres. This style of shoe has a wide date range from the 9th to the late 12th century. Similar shoes have been recovered from Waterford, Cork and Dublin where they were dated to the late 11th and 12th century as well as further afield in London, York and Hedeby.

John Nicholl. (2016, September 26). The Annaholty Bog Shoe Replica. https://broguesandshoes.com/the-annaholty-bog-shoe-replica/. Copy available at sorgs.de.

A leather shoe, found monitoring, is dated to 11/12th century AD and is a composite of cow and deer hide.

Kate Taylor, Aisling Mulcahy & Edele Ruttle. (2008). Annaholty Bog: Marginal landscape or major routeway. TVAS Ireland Report.https://tvasireland.ie/Reports/wac%20annaholty%20poster%20new%20copy.pdf. Copy available at sorgs.de.

Irish Shoe

Marianne Tölle. (2004). Lebendige Geschichte: Im Irland der Hochkönige 400 - 1200. Time life. Komet Verlag, Köln. ISBN 13: 9783898362436. https://www.zvab.com/9783898362436/Lebendige-Geschichte-Irland-Hochk%C3%B6nige-400-1200-3898362434/plp.

Tara Brooch

Just as the Book of Kells is a striking example of the scribal art, so the Tara Brooch is one of the greatest treasures of Irish metalwork. The silver-gilt brooch has some seventy-six different designs on it, and is ornamented on both front and back. Its detail includes casting, enamel and filigree; amber, glass and gold; knotwork, zoomorphics and spirals. More ornamental than functional (a sign of the wealth of the owner), the eighth-century Tara Brooch is of the annular style. An annular brooch consists of a circle of metal, with a freely-swinging pin attached. For function, however, a penannular style is to be preferred. The metal circle is open-ended on a penannular, so that the pin may be passed through the ring, locking the fabric into the brooch. Penannulars date to pre-Roman times. Annulars became fashionable in the eighth century, but the form returned to the more functional penannular after the leisure-disrupting Viking raids in the ninth and tenth centuries. Despite its name, however, the Tara brooch has nothing to do with the royal seat of Tara; the name is the invention of romantic 19th century historians.

Michael Newton, Rebecca Roolf and Lynn Holden. (1991). Celtic Museum. HyperCard stack. Converted to HTML by Ray White, 2003-2019. Retrieved December 14, 2024, from https://whitefiles.org/his/celtic_museum/index.htm. Copy available at sorgs.de.

Hilton of Cadboll Stone

The Hilton of Cadboll Stone is a Class II Pictish stone discovered at Hilton of Cadboll, on the Tarbat Peninsula in Easter Ross, Scotland. It is one of the most magnificent of all Pictish cross-slabs. On the seaward-facing side is a Christian cross, and on the landward facing side are secular depictions. The latter are carved below the Pictish symbols of crescent and V-rod and double disc and Z-rod: a hunting scene including a woman wearing a large penannular brooch riding side-saddle.Like other similar stones, it can be dated between the 6th to 9th centuries.

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, October 9). Hilton of Cadboll Stone. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:31, December 14, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hilton_of_Cadboll_Stone&oldid=1250263556.

Cross slab, Date 7th - 8th century. Stone cross slab, the back is highly decorated including a hunting scene, but the original carvings on the front were carved off for re-use as a gravestone, Pictish, found at Hilton of Cadboll, Ross and Cromarty, 7th or 8th century AD

National Museums Scotland. (2011). Cross slab. Museum reference X.IB 189. https://www.nms.ac.uk/search-our-collections/collection-search-results?entry=167205.

A Ritchie. (2017). Hilton Of Cadboll, 'cadboll Stone'. Canmore Site Record. Historic Environment Scotland. Scottish Charity No. SC045925. Site 15261. https://canmore.org.uk/site/15261/hilton-of-cadboll-cadboll-stone. Copy available at sorgs.de.

Childrens Woollen Hood

In A Generous Land you'll find all kinds of domestic objects, from practical tools and clothing to decorative arts, including objects found in Skara Brae, the neolithic group of houses in Orkney. Fragments of a bow made from Irish yew form one of the oldest exhibits, dating from 6000 BC, while a remarkably intact woollen hood shows how people dressed over 1,200 years ago. ... This child's woollen hood is over 1,200 years old. It was found preserved in moss on Orkney.

National Museums Scotland. (2011). A Generous Land. Exhibition 2011 to 2014. http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/national_museum/explore_the_galleries/scotland/early_people/a_generous_land.aspx. Lost, archived at archive.org.

Brooch of Kilmainham

11th century, Kilmainham, Ireland (Replica) Brooch from Kilmainham. early 20th century (original dated 11th century). Irish. Bronze gilt. Diam: 10.2 cm. Acquired by the Museum in 1908. (08.23.4)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (2025). Brooches from Republic of Ireland. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search?material=Brooches&geolocation=Republic+of+Ireland.

Ardagh Brooch

Ardagh Brooch. early 20th century (original dated 11th century). Irish. Bronze gilt. Diam.: 14 cm. Acquired by the Museum in 1906. (07.65.3)

Dalriada Brooch

Dalriada Brooch. early 20th century (original dated 12th century). Irish. Gold. Diam: 7.5 cm. Acquired by the Museum in 1908. (08.23.15)

Hunterston Brooch

Hunterston Brooch. about 700 AD. Argyll. Diameter: 122mm. Height: 36mm. Made from: Silver, gold and amber. Made in: Ireland or Western Scotland

Glassary. (1867).Hunterston Brooch https://canmore.org.uk/collection/675439. Part of The National Collection of Scotland. Museum reference X.FC 8. https://www.nms.ac.uk/search-our-collections/collection-search-results?entry=132606.

Contemporary Depictions

The Kelso Charter

Depicted is the Scottish king. Being an Anglo-Saxon work, we cannot take the clothing depicted as a reliable example of Scottish-Gaelic dress.

Maths Lesson at Glendalough

Date: 1106, Glendalough, Ireland (British Library Egerton 3323 f.18)

"It came as a surprise to find a queen reclining on a couch in the middle of a maths class in the monastic school at Glendalough in 1106. A definition of Infinity also came as a bit of a jolt. I hadn't expected any of this when I started to look at British Library, Egerton 3323, f. 18—this folio is associated with Glendalough because of a marginal note."

Musicandthestars. (2006). Glendalough Maths Lesson. Illuminated Manuscript Blog. Retrieved from http://musicandthestars.wordpress.com/

Breac Maedhóc

Date: 11th–12th century, Ireland | Material: Bronze house-shrine

Cavan County Museum & Early Gael Harp Info. Breac Maedhóc: 11th–12th Century Bronze House-Shrine. Sources: Early Irish Resources; Cavan County Museum; W. Wie sie damals lebten im Irland der Hochkönige. Time-Life Books. Also: Early Gael Harp Information

Bronze Figure of a Bishop

Date: Early Medieval | Material: Bronze sculpture

Irish Archaeology & National Museum of Ireland. Bronze Figure of a Bishop, Early Medieval Period. From: Treasures of Early Irish Art (1977). Source: Irish Archaeological Collections

Cross of the Scriptures in Clonmacnois

Date: 10th century | Location: Clonmacnois, Ireland

Albanach.org. (2010). High Crosses of Ireland: Clonmacnois. Retrieved from http://www.albanach.org/kilt.html

Cross of Muiredach, Monasterboice

Date: 9th–10th century | Location: Monasterboice, Ireland

Albanach.org & Multiple Sources. Cross of Muiredach: Monasterboice High Cross. Sources: High Crosses; A Military History of Ireland (Thomas Bartlett); W. Wie sie damals lebten im Irland der Hochkönige. Time-Life Books. "Musician from of a Cross in Clonmacnoise" (Carrowkeel.com)

St. Boden's Cross, Clonca Monastic Site

Date: 10th–11th century | Location: Clonca Monastic Site, Ireland

Megalithic Ireland & Historic Archives. St. Boden's Cross, Clonca Monastic Site. Sources: Megalithic Ireland; Historic Photographs

Book of Kells

Date: ~800 AD | Location: Ireland | Manuscript: Illuminated Gospel book

Studio Edition & Historic Archives. Book of Kells: Complete Facsimile. Folios 32v, 200r, 292r, 29r. ISBN 1-85891-004-8. Additional sources: Visual Analysis Blog

Codex 51, St. Gallen

Date: 8th century | Location: St. Gallen Monastic Library, Switzerland

Bild der Wissenschaft. (August 2012). Early Medieval Textiles and Dress in Northern Europe. Bild der Wissenschaft Magazine, 8/2012.

Illustrations from Gerald of Wales

Source: Gerald of Wales, Topographia Hibernia (~1200) | Note: Reliability questioned by McClintock; Roche and Dunlevy sources preferred

Gerald of Wales & Diverse Sources. Topographia Hibernica: Norman Chronicle of Ireland. Scholarly sources: Irish Historical Resources; Thomas Bartlett, A Military History of Ireland (Google Books); W. Wie sie damals lebten im Irland der Hochkönige. Time-Life Books. Note: These illustrations represent 12th-century Norman interpretations; historical accuracy should be verified against archaeological and textual evidence.

Domnach Airgid Reliquary

Date: 6th–12th century (multiple periods) | Material: Bronze and precious metals | Location: Ireland

Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln. (1983). Irische Kunst aus drei Jahrtausenden: Irish Art from Three Millennia. Exhibition Catalog. Römisch-Germanisches Museum, Cologne, 1983.

St. Molaise

Date: ~1200 | Material: Oak wood carving | Location: Inishmurray, National Museum of Ireland

Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln. (1983). Irische Kunst aus drei Jahrtausenden: Irish Art from Three Millennia. Exhibition Catalog. Römisch-Germanisches Museum, Cologne, 1983. Collection: National Museum of Ireland.

Stowe Missal Reliquary

Date: 1023 | Material: Bronze and precious metals | Location: Ireland

Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln. (1983). Irische Kunst aus drei Jahrtausenden: Irish Art from Three Millennia. Exhibition Catalog. Römisch-Germanisches Museum, Cologne, 1983.

Contemporary Nordic and European Descriptions

Contemporary Nordic and European Descriptions

Contemporary Scottish and Irish Descriptions

"Bruit ánaidi impu. Delggi argait intib. Lénti órshnaith fria cnessaib ba törnuid do dergór. Claidib gelduirn léo co n-imdurnaib argit."

"Bruitt forglassa uli impu. Lénti glégela í fria cnessaib. Claidib co multaib óir & co n-imdurnib argait léo."

"Bruitt chorcra cumtaichthi impu. Delgi órdai ecortha ós ochtaib díb. Lénti sími setai sótaidi co tenmedán traiged díb. I nn-oenfécht dostorgbaitis a cossa & dofairnitis arís."

"Brat áanide imme, delg n-argait indi. Lénti órsníth immi."

"Bratt dond derscaigthech immi, bruthgae umaidi 'na brut. Tarbláni trebraid fria chness. Dá bernbríc etera dá choiss is talmain. Méadlorg findchuill issindara láim. Claideb lethféebair co n-eltaib dét 'sind láim anaill dé. - comartha n-echlaige sin"

"Féan corcra corrtharach inaithi immi. Delg n-órda n-ecortha 'sin brut. Manáss lethanglas ar derglassad 'na láim. Scáath cobradach condálach co cobraid óir deirg óasu. Claideb fata sithlái co n-ecrasaib serrda for dáb sliastaib sudigthi dond óclaog móir borrfaid fail isin charput ar medón."

"Bratt áanide i forcipul imme. Cassán gelargit isin brut áasa bruinne. Léne de sríl rúag fo dergindliud do dergór i custul fri gelchness co glénaib dé. Dubscáath co calathbáli finndruini fair. Sleg céicrind ina láim."

"IS and sin atracht in t-ara & ro gab a fáaneirred araidechta immi. Ba dond fáaneirriud aradachta sin ro gabastar-som imbi a inar bláith báannaide, is - átrom aárda, is - sáata srebnaide, is - áigthe osslethair, connú gebeth ar láamairecht lám dé anechtair. Ro gabastar-som forbratt faing taris-sein anechtair doringni - Ro gabastar in t-ara cátna a chathbarr cárach clárach cetharchoir co n-ilur cech datha & cacha delba dara midgáallib sechtair. Ba somaissi dé-som sin & nárbo thortrommad. Tarraill a lám leis in - gipni ndergbuide marbad land dergír do brons-bruthí dar or n-indéena re átan do indchomartha araidechta secha thigerna. Ro gab idata aurslaicthi a ech & a del intlaissi ina desra. Ro gabastar a ássi astuda ech ina thásri .i. aradna a ech ina lám chló, re imchommus a araidechta." - irish version does not fit exactly

"Fair mantle, well-fitting, purple, fringed, five-folded. A white brooch of white silver inset with inlaid gold over his white breast - A tunic of silk next to his skin, bordered with edges and braidings and fringes of gold and of silver and of white bronze, reaching to the top of his dark apron, dark-red, soldierly, of royal satin. A splendid dark-purple shield he bore with a rim of pure white silver around it. He wore a golden-hilted ornamented sword at his left side. In the chariot beside him was a long grey-edged spear together with a sharp attacking dagger, with splendid thongs and rivets of white bronze."

"Bratt gorm i filliud imme. Delg n-argit isin brut áasa bruinne. Crommscáath go féebur chondálach fair. Sleg céicrind inna láim. Faga faegablaige - 'na farrad. Dobert in fuil sain."

"Bratt corcra gen daithi impi. - Eé óir isin brut áasa brunni. Sleg díriuch á drumnech ar derglassad 'na láim."

"Dá bratt gorma i filliud impu. Delgi argait isna brattaib áasa mbrunnib. Munchobrach argit áengil im bráit - chechtar n-aé dáb."

"Dá bratt áanide i forcipul impu. Dá chasta̘n gelargit isna brattaib áasa mbrunnib. Dá sleig céicrind inna lámaib."

"Bruitt dubglassa fáloss i forcipul impu. Delgi duillecha do findruinu isna brattaib áasa mbrunnib. Manási lethanglassa 'na lámaib."

"Dá bratt áanide i forcipul impu. Dá chasta̘n gelargit isna brattaib áasa mbrunnib. Dá léine di slemainsta buide fria cnessaib. Claidbi gelduirn ara cressaib. Dá gelsc áath co t áagmá̘laib argit findi foraib. Dá sleig céicrind go fá̘thanaib argit áengil ina lámaib."

"He took up his rough, dark-coloured, iron shield with the rim of hard silver around it. On his left side he put his rough, heavy-smiting sword with grey guard. He took his two gapped, shaky-headed spears in the chariot beside him"

"Pure-white linen cloths"

"Shock of shields and the smiting of spears and the loud striking of swords, the clashing of helmets, the clangour of breastplates"

"Beautiful, shapely, ornamented helmets"

"A purple mantle fringed, five-folded, about him and a golden brooch in the mantle over his breast. A pure-white, hooded shirt with insertion of red gold he wore next to his white skin. He carried a white shield ornamented with animal designs in red gold. In one hand he had a gold-hilted, ornamented sword, in the other a broad, grey spear."

("E ir isin brutt sa bruinne. léine gel gel chulpatach ba dergintliud do derg r fria gelchness. Gelsc ath go t agm laib derg ir fair. Claideb r duirn intlaissi isindara l im d Mana s lethanglass isin l im anaill.")

"A green mantle wrapt around him. A pure silver brooch in the mantle over his breast. A dark-red, soldierly tunic with insertion of red gold next to his fair skin and reaching to his knees. A spear like the torch of a royal palace in his hand, with bands of silver and rings of gold."

("Bratt anide i forcipul imme. Cassan gelargit isin brut sa brunni. Lani donderg m leta ba dergindliud do derg r fr a gelchnes i caustul go gl nib d Caindell r gthaige 'na l im go f thanaib argait & co fonascaib ir.")

"Bratt dubglass ba loss i forcipul imme. Delg duillech de findruine - 'sin brut áasa bruinne. Léine gelchulpatach fría chness. Gelscáath co t áagmá̘laib argait inti fair. Mádlorn findargait i n-intiuch bodba fá̘ choimm."

"Fer find fata má̘r - Bratt forglass i filliud imme. Delg argit isin brut áasa brunni. Léine gel manáisech fri chness. Crommscáath comfaebur chondálach fair. Sleg céicrind 'na láim."

"Crundscáath derg co mbil chaladargait ina imthimchiull áasu. Gae slindlethan slegfota 'na láim. Bratt rá̘abach imme. Eé uma isin brut áasa brunni. Léine chulpatach i caustul gá̘ forcnib d áт. Colg dát iarna chossliasait chláa"

"Casta̘n gelderg i fadi áasu. Eé óir isin brut áasa brunni. Léine de sruál rúag ina dergfilliud de dergóir fri gelchness. Gelsc áath co t áagmá̘laib dergóir fair. Claideb ársduirn intlassi fora chláu. Gae fata fáeborglass re faga fáig fábarta co sá̘anemnaib loga co semmannaib findruine ina láim"

"Gormanart caél corrtharach go stáagaib fá̘thi figthi fáta á findruini, go cnappib dálsi deligthi derggóir for bernadaib & brollaigib d áfri chness. Bratt bommannach co mbáaid cach datha thariss. Caechruth óir - fair .i. a scáath fair. Claideb crúaid catut colgdáriuch i n-ardgabáil churad bara chláu. Sleg díriuch drumnech ar derglassad 'na láim."

"Scáath báaledach fair. Claideb ársduirn intlassi bara chláu. Sleg céicrind confaittnedar darin sluág uile ina láim."

"Dá bratt áanide i forcipul impu. Dá chasta̘n gelargait isna brattaib áasa mbrunnib. Dá léine di slemunsta buide fria cnessaib. Claidbi gelduirn fora cressaib. Dá sleig céicrind co fá̘thanaib argait áengil ina lámaib."

"Bratt rá̘bá̘in imme. Cá̘alli iairn isin brut áasa brunni congeib ían gá̘alaind go araile d á. Léine garb threbraid fri chness. Claideb secht mbrattomon do iurn athlegtha iarna tháebdruimm. Tilach dond fair .i. a scáath. Láathga már co tráchait semmand trina crú 'na láim."

"Bratt brecc imme. Scáath glass fair. Gae gorm tanaide áasa."

"Bratt derg fa chaslá̘ á̘ imme. Brettnas bánaargait isin brut áasa brunni. Léine lá̘nidi fría chness. Scáath chróderg co comraid óir fair. Claideb co n-irdurn argait bara chláu. Sleg uillech árscrúa áasu."

"Scáath gorm co cobraid óir. Claideb ársduirnd bara chláu. Sleg céicrind co n-ór ina láim. Mind óir áasu."

"Aill bruitt deirg. Aill bruitt glaiss. Aill bruitt guirm. Aill bruitt áanide. Blá̘e báana buide it áat á̘lle á̘trochta áasu. Undseo mac mbec mbrecderg co mbrutt chorcra eturru bar medá̘n badessin. Eé óir á isin brut áasa brunni. Léine de sruál rúag ba derggintliud de dergóir fri gelchness. Gelscáath go t áagmá̘laib dergóir fair. Taul óir barsin scáath, bil óir ina imthimchiull. Claideb ársduirn bec bá̘ choimm aice. Gae á̘ith á̘tromm co foscathaib áasu."

"Á̘taige lá̘gda lendmassa. Deilge arda airegda iar ndá̘tib dendglana. Lá̘nti sá̘ti srebnaide. Slega gorma glainidi. Scáith buide bámnecha. Claidbi ársduirn intlassi iarna sliastaib sudigthir."

(From: http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T301035/index.html and http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G301035/index.html

The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel

Ireland, ~1100

"Part I"

"Once upon a time he came over the fairgreen of Bri Leith, and he saw at the edge of a well a woman with a bright comb of silver adorned with gold, washing in a silver basin wherein were four golden birds and little, bright gems of purple carbuncle in the rims of the basin. A mantle she had, curly and purple, a beautiful cloak, and in the mantle silvery fringes arranged, and a brooch of fairest gold. A kirtle she wore, long, hooded, hard-smooth, of green silk, with red embroidery of gold. Marvellous clasps of gold and silver in the kirtle on her breasts and her shoulders and spaulds on every side. The sun kept shining upon her, so that the glistening of the gold against the sun from the green silk was manifest to men. On her head were two golden-yellow tresses, in each of which was a plait of four locks, with a bead at the point of each lock."

"There she was, undoing her hair to wash it, with her arms out through the sleeve-holes of her smock."

"... mantles of close cloth ..."

... three horsemen ... frocks ... mantles ... bucklers ... spears ...

Part II

Part III

"Part IV: He wears a shirt and a bright-red mantle, with a brooch of silver therein."

"Capes they wore, with a purple loop."

"Englishmen... linen frocks somewhat short were round them... purple plaids over them without brooches therein... broad spears... red curved shields above them."

(Excerpt from: http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/1100derga.asp

Suibhne

Ireland, 13th century

"His wife Eorann, daughter of Conn of Ciannacht, in order to hold him, seized the wing of the fringed, crimson cloak which was around him, so that the fibula of pure white silver, neatly inlaid with gold, which was on his cloak over his breast, sprang through the house. Therewith, leaving his cloak with the queen, he set out stark-naked

"[p.11] Then on the day fixed for the great battle Suibhne came to battle before the rest. In this wise did he appear. A filmy shirt of silk was next his white skin, around him was a girdle of royal satin, likewise the tunic which Congal had given him the day he slew Oilill Cedach, king of the Ui Faolain, at Magh Rath; a crimson tunic of one colour was it with a close, well-woven border of beautiful, refined gold set with rows of fair gems of carbuncle from one end to the other of the border, having in it silken loops over beautiful, shining buttons for fastening and opening it, with variegation of pure white silver each way and each path he would go; there was a slender-threaded hard fringe to that tunic. In his hands were two spears very long and (shod) with broad iron, a yellow-speckled horny shield was on his back, a gold-hilted sword at his left side."

"he placed his finger on the string of the riveted spear that was in his hand, and hurling it"

"He made another cast with the edged, sharp-angled dart"

"[p.53] after having been in garments of silk and satin on splendid steeds from foreign lands"

"Many cups and goblets and carved buffalo horns for pleasant-flavoured and enjoyable liquors were yours also"

"[p.87] though I am without mantle or smock."

"[p.91] May a raid of the blue-coated Norsemen take thee!"

"[p.105] a tunic with gold and a splendid girdle of chequered silk"

"[p.113] Oilill Cedach the combative? Wild and angry the man, huge his shield and his spear,"

"[p.139] Moling: Move hither that thou mayest eat what thou deemest sweet. Suibhne: If you but knew, cleric, more grievous is it to be without a cloak."

"Moling: Thou shalt take my cowl or thou shalt take my smock."

(from: http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T302018/

Lebor na gCert - The Book of Rights

Probably c. 11th century (compiled 1378 and later)

I.1 - Tributes from Cashel

"Céd corn, céot claideam a Caisil, céot n-each, céot n-inar ria ais, Fichi falach, fichi fichthill, caeca each glústa co gnáth"

"Ocht l áirecha do flaith Airgiall"

"Céd corn, céot claideb, céot matal do múlid Boirchi"

"Trícha l áireach do laech Themrach"

I.2 - Green Mantles and Cloaks

"céot leand n-uaine a hAraib"

"míli brat a Boirind"

I.3 - Cloth Suits and Umall Cloaks

"tríochát n-ádach ar Samain, céot mbrat do brataib Umaill"

I.4 - Curly Cloaks and Colored Cloaks

"Trícha casbrat cetluaitte - is corcair nos cum, míle brat nach bánn, míli brat co mbánchosair, céot brat find co find-Chaisil"

I.5 - Swords, Shields, and Martial Equipment

"deich claidim, deich scáith, deich scing, ocht scáith, ocht claidim re guin"

"Céic eich, céic matail co n-ór & céic cuirn re coméol, céic claidim re cor cach óir"

"deich scáith, deich claidim chalma, deich l áireachallánbadba"

"Seacht n-eich, seacht n-inair derga, seacht scáith ar ghealadh na gréine, seacht claidim croma"

("seacht sc"ith co sc"th na gr"ni

"Seacht claidmi croma catha."

I.6 - Gilded Horns, Harness, and Cloaks

"Deich cuirn co n-ór cach Samna is errid tar ard-moir, deich mbruit chorcra, deich mbruit guirm, is a chochall seang sráll-ítaig"

"deich n-inair donna derga is sé leanda lán-chorcra"

II.1 - Crimson and Royal Cloaks

"Seasca brat dearg & tríocha fichit ríg-brat"

II.2 - Gold-Embroidered Tunics and Scarlet

"sé heich, sé hinair co n-ór is seacht n-inair urrderga"

III.1 - White-Bordered and Colored Cloaks

"caeca brat co mbán-bilib la caeca brat ndatha dú"

III.2 - Armor, Cloaks, and Weapons

"Caeca mogaid & caeca errid & caeca brat & caeca láireach, sé bruit uaine, sé bruit guirm"

"tríí scáith, tríí claidmi catha, tríí hinair co n-órfithim, tríí matail chaema chúna"

IV.2 - Purple Cloaks and Fleecy Garments

"céic bruit chorcra is caemchasair, ocht mbruit chorcra bus caem-lí, sé cuirn lánglana im lind"

V.1 - Fifty of Each: Swords, Shields, and Horses

"Caeca claideam, caeca sciath, caeca brat, caeca ech liath, caeca cochall, caeca scing is caeca láireach lángrind"

"Fichi brat breac, ní bec ní, fichi matal, maeth a llí"

VI.1 - Fleecy Cloaks and Fine Garments

"céic bruit chasa & céic eich, Céot sárbrat ó na Saithnib"

VII.1

"Thirty rings, fifty swords, a hundred brown horses with sheltering cloths, fifty hoods, not mere spoil, ten horns, and ten royal mantles."

"Tríocha falach, cóeca claideam, céot n-each ndond co ndán-brataib, caeca cochall, nórbat athfuidb, deich rachuirn, deich ríg-matail."

VII.2 - Materials and Dyes for Fine Garments

"Dleagar don lucht is fearr d'b ruu is corcair co caenbríg, snáth dearg, oland find, ní chí, blaan buidi & bindín"

VIII - Dublin and the Bright Shields

"aircther fo thrí ind Áth Cliath - Gaeidelaib na nglainsciath"

X - Garments, Cloaks, Ships, and Shields

"dí ádach dích cach datha, ocht mbruit datha & dá luing co sciath ngel ar gach ngualaind, seacht mbruit datha im cach deiglind, co n-ocht ndeilgib findroine"

"láireach & ga i comlonn, ocht longa is ocht láireacha"

"Ceithri scáith dearga datha, ceithri cathbairr chomdatha, ceithri láireacha 'na ndiaid, ceithri sleaga ri síor-gliaid"

(Excerpts from: http://www.maryjones.us/index.html and http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G102900/index.html)

Summary:

A type of tunic: inar

Four types of cloaks or mantles: brat, lenn, matail, cach (in different sorts, fleecy, curly, fine, royal; in different colors with or without borders)

Hoods: cochall

Three types of armour: luireach, errid, edach

Several sorts of swords (claidim), spears (sleaga, ga) and shields (sceith)

Brooches (deilgib, caemchasair), bracelets/rings (falach), drinking horns (cuirn)

The Annals of Ulster AD 431-1201

Compiled during 16th century

"Was beheaded by a battle-sword" (U738.4)

"That it is I who plied a sword" (U810.3)

"In battle with swords" (U841.5)

"A generous prudent man of shields
Who brought plenty to landed Temair,
Against iron-tipped spears a buckler
From the forge-fire of the land of the sons of Mil." (U879.1)

"The foreigners with their axes" (U895.6)

"Was killed by the 'Torc' in Brigit's church" (U1007.4)

"The 'Torc,' king of Ulaid" (U1007.8)

"Mael of the large spear, king of U Dorthainn" (U1009.3)

"The foreigners of Scandinavia, i.e. to the number of 1,000 breastplates" (U1014.2)

"A lord in the abundance of cloaks and food bestowed - Shall never die from a spear-point." (U1022.3)

"Aed of the gapped spear" (U1067.4)

"And there were given to him [Ua Lochlainn] many treasures, including the sword of the son of the Earl" (U1165.10)

"Donnchadh Ua Cerbaill, arch-king of Airgialla, was mangled with the [battle-]axe of a serving gillie of his own." (U1168.4)

"Save the tunics and the capes which were upon them at that hour." (U1170.6)

(Excerpts from: http://www.ucc.ie/celt)

Cogadh Gael Re Gall (~1110)

Description of the wars between the Irish and the Viking, written soon after the Battle of Clontarf 1014

Contains few descriptions but a very detailed description of the soldiers of Erin.

"INTRODUCTION. xcvii

"Niall Glundubh, the hero of the Leather cloaks."

"INTRODUCTION. p?"

The Irish swords of this period were short, and of bronze. The Danish swords were long, and of steel.

"INTRODUCTION. clxii"

"He [Maelmordha] had on a tunic of silk, which Brian had given him, with a border of gold around it, and silver buttons."

"WARS OF THE GAEDHIL WITH THE GAILL - p79 - They [the Gael] carried off their [The Gall] jewels and their best property, and their saddles beautiful and foreign; their gold and their silver; their beautifully woven cloth of all colours and of all kinds; their satins and silken cloth, pleasing and variegated, both scarlet and green, and all sorts of cloth in like manner. They carried away their soft, youthful, bright, matchless girls; their blooming silk-clad young women."

"p. 143 - Whereupon the king himself, Maelmordha, put his hand to the mast of the Ui Faelain, having a silken tunic which Brian had previously given him, which had a border [of gold] round it, and silver buttons; the tunic was on him, and one of its buttons broke with the exertion."

"p. 153 - Danmarkians: And there was not one villain or robber of that two thousand who had not polished, strong, triple-plated, glittering armour of refined iron, or of cool uncorroding brass, encasing their sides and bodies from head to foot."

"p. 157 - Three score and ten banners over them, of red, and of yellow, and of green, and of all kinds of colours; together with the everlasting, variegated, lucky, fortunate banner, that had gained the victory in every battle."

"Soldiers of Erinn: And these had for the purposes of battle and combat, above their heads, spears glittering, well riveted, empoisoned, with well-shaped, heroic, beautiful handles of white hazel; terrible sharp darts with variegated silken strings; thick set with bright, dazzling, shining nails, to be violently cast at the heroes of valour and bravery. They had on them also, long, glossy, convenient, handsome, white, neat, well-adjusted, graceful shirts. They had on them also, beautiful, many-coloured, well-fitting, handsome, well-shaped, well-adjusted, enfolding tunics, over comfortable long vests. They had with them also, great warlike, bright, beautiful, variegated shields, with bosses of brass, and elegant chains of bronze, at the sides of their noble, accomplished, sweet, courteous, eloquent clansmen. They had on them also, crested golden helmets, set with sparkling transparent brilliant gems and precious stones, on the heads of chiefs and royal knights. They had with them also, shining, powerful, strong, graceful, sharp, glaring, bright, broad, well-set Lochlann axes, in the hands of chiefs and leaders, and heroes, and brave knights, for cutting and maiming the close well-fastened coats of mail. They had with them, steel, strong, piercing, graceful, ornamental, smooth, sharp-pointed, bright-sided, keen, clean, azure, glittering, flashing, brilliant, handsome, straight, well-tempered, quick, sharp swords, in the beautiful white hands of chiefs and royal knights, for hewing and for hacking, for maiming and mutilating skins, and bodies, and skulls!"

p298 APPENDIX D.

small islands south of Iceland ... received the name of Vestmanna-eyer [Westmen, or Irishmen's islands].

--> Landnama, Part I., chap. 3-7.

(ancient connexion between Ireland and Iceland)"

(from: "CHRONICLES AND MEMORIALS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND DURING THE MIDDLE AGES. THE WAR OF THE GAEDHIL WITH THE GAILL.", 1857, Digitized by Google)

Song of Dermot and the Earl (~1220)

Carew Manuscript No. 596

Chanson about the Norman invasion in Ireland written by a Norman-Irish scribe of french origin based on a contemporary report before 1230.

"Line 670ff:
For most of us [Normans] are well armed,
Bold vassals and combatants,
While the traitors are quite naked.
They wear neither hauberks nor breast-plates;"

"Line 970ff:
A Phantasm came upon them [Normans] in the night,
Which each one took for true.
A vast and marvellous host
Through the midst of the huts suddenly
Came upon them, well armed
With hauberks and with banded bucklers."

"Line 2425ff:
And the Irish thereupon
Went in all directions slaying:
Slaying they went in all directions
With their javelins and their darts"

"Line 3330ff:
And the Irish who had no armour"

(from: The Song of Dermot and the Earl, G.H. Orpen 1892, digitized by Google)

poem of Gilla Bhrighde MacConmidhe

13th century, Misc. Celt. Soc. p. 15a:

"Unequal they engaged in the battle.
The foreigners and the Gaeidhil of Teamhair,
Fine linen shirts on the race of Conn,
And the foreigners in one mass of iron."

(from: Appendix to The Song of Dermot and the Earl, G.H. Orpen 1892, digitized by Google)

The Annals of Tigernach (~1200)

Annales Tigernachi, 12th century, probably Clonmacnoise, Ireland

"T618.3 - When he shakes his shield he terrifies his foes. Though 'tis a little thing on his back, it is a shelter for West Munster."

"T1054.2 - three mantles and two shirts"

"T1156.4 - Toirdhealbhach Conchobhair, king of all Ireland died"

"He offered all his treasures except sword or drinkinghorn or shield or weapon, both horses and cattle and raiment, and draughtboards, and draughtmen, and bows and quivers and slings."

"T1166.20 - As a tax, ten score coloured garments, and to the men of Munster forty coloured garments."

"T1171.9 - The Earl and Miles Cogan entered the camp of Leth Cuinn and killed a multitude of their rabble, and carried off their provisions, their armour, and their sumpter-horses."

(from: CELT edition, http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100002A/index.html)

Later Relevant Descriptions and Depictions

Useful Interpretations