IRISH AXEMAN

An extract from Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066
by Ian Heath

40. IRISH AXEMAN

From the late-9th century onwards the Irish began to adopt characteristically Viking weapons. The 'War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill', listing the equipment of the Irish army at Clontarf, tells us that the kings, chiefs and leading warriors had broad-bladed 'Lochlann' (i.e. Viking) axes 'for cutting and maiming the close, well-fastened coats of mail' that their Viking opponents wore. The same source also seems to indicate that longer swords were now in use (in which it is backed up by archaeology), and that larger shields had been adopted, these latter having brass bosses and bronze decoration and being painted in variegated patterns as described under 66. This particular figure is based on carvings on a shrine of a slightly later date (c. 1130). His hair is plaited with the end of each plait secured by a small golden ball, while his beard is forked Viking-fashion. The Irish generally wore their hair long and thick.

[Based on the Shrine of St. Manchán of Manghan, a bronze Irish house-shrine, c. 1130]

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