irish gallowglasses ,c 1250 -1600

The gallowglasses (also spelt galloglass, gallowglas or alloglas; from Irish: gall óglaigh meaning foreign warriors) were a class of elite mercenary warriors who were principally members of the Norse-Gaelic clans of Scotland between the mid 13th century and late 16th century. Their weapon of choice was the ax and they preferred death to defeat on the battle field.They were the potent result of the inter-breeding of Scottish Gaels with the Norse settlers who colonised the Scottish isles.