Very interesting. I wonder if the deforestation from the 1500s for the English navy and farming helped the transition to pike and shot.

This is the exact stuff I subscribed for, seriously. Gaelic warfare and the warrior tradition of Ireland is a huge aspect of my love of Irish history. Didn't even know The Rambling Kern even existed! Great stuff; I'd love to study Irish HEMA. I already study Highland Broadsword (which a good many Irishmen fought with in the 1600s and 1700s) so expanding that study would be amazing.

I really appreciate this channel since it helps me better understand where my family comes from prior to the American civil war. See, the Irish American half of my family migrated here from Ireland just in time for the civil war and my family enlisted to fight on behalf of the union army in the 69th Irish brigade and for the longest time that's as much as I've known. Since I've been watching these videos I have a better understanding of that entire half of my ancestry regarding this specific topic since I can relate to it being a Hema, Kali and bataireacht practitioner. Saying all that I would like to thank you.

Very nice video. Another thing I'd love to hear about is some in-depth analysis of Irish battle tactics, especially that of the kern. Battle cries would be a great topic too. So much stuff, I've no idea where to even start to research this myself.

Great history lesson thanks mate

Wish Ireland had more trees still

Something I'd love to see more of is irish warfare during the high medieval period. Almost everything I read about them is either in early medieval or late medieval. I can't find any sources on high medieval Ireland

Yup❤❤❤

Absolutely great video!!

I’ve been subbed and watched your vids for awhile, and I’ve gone back to your older videos how on earth did I miss this one? Love it!

GREAT, im looking forward to more videos!. ive always been fascinated with the ancient/medieval irish culture, political and military history!

I'm very interested in ancient weapons and warfare I guess being around my dad a retired military man he wasn't a bragger. But when he was in the mood he could outdo my cousin in storytelling but he wasn't the type to take away the to top guy in yarn telling.

Very interesting video, enjoyed it.

Great post

We need to promote traditional irish cture and language in eire,and bring back living modern day , irish warrior culture !

A big misconception is that Kerns were poor warriors. In fact they were definitely part of the noble class as it cost a fortune to outfit them. Having their own distinct weapons and fighting styles they were the equivalent of knights on the continent.

Good stuff lads

Curnow here

Can you recommend a good book that focuses on Irish warfare? And can you do a video on how Irish warfare developed from celtic times to viking/norman times? Because the other celtic areas were consumed by Rome and took on their battle style. (Apart from Scotland which we conquered). In Medieval times were the Irish still fully invested in the old celtic psych up before a battle with horns, speeches, chants etc?

The Celts across Europe prised individual combat, apparently they frowned upon the use of the bow and arrow as it was seen as a cowardly weapon where your enemy could be struck from a distance rather than hand to hand combat. Over time though the benefits of this were slowly adopted but perhaps not on a large scale as in the way the British longbow was used. The compound bow would have been a time consuming weapon to make and without modern industrial methods of manufacture would have meant a large disparity in the performance of individually made weapons and the danger of that bow breaking at a crucial moment in combat. A throwing dart would have achieved much the same result but cheaper to make, easier to transport and could be produced in a relatively large scale.

Not sure if this'll be read; but in my research especially in regards to two specific surnames, Kerr and Carroll were primarily of Kern stock as it was their profession during the time (Kerr being from Scottish 'kerns'; caterans).

How much do you know about the taking of heads?

The pikes were use in history and by other cultures I think as ways of stages of battles?

How can you teach Irish martial arts? And what are his qualifications?

I've seen armor made up of bone somewhere. Wait I think the indigenous people somewhere used something similar to the dart with the sling wow yes I can be like a sponge, dirk and daggers for up close and personal reasons 😜🙄🤦🤦

So would it be accurate to call an Irish Warrior from the Iron Age a Kern? Or would that be incorrect?

Very interesting. I think we have to be careful about making "national" distinctions between different fighting techniques, adoptions, etc, within the the Gaelic culture region of Ireland and Scotland. It's worth remembering for much of the Middle Agee, the vast majority of Irish and Scots spoke a number of dialects of the Gaelic language. Bringing things into the modern era, that joint legacy can be found in the Gaelic games of Hurling and Shinty. Traditionally, players of both codes play with their left hand forward while holding their sticks. This comes directly from practices deployed in the use of the two handed "claidheamh da laimh" and "dane axe". The forward, left hand, acted as a fulcrum for the swing, with the right, "power" hand delivering the energy for the blow. Having the right hand at the end of the handle also gave maximum reach to the strongest hand. The "left hand forward" style also changed spacial perception, giving an advantage over less well practiced opponents. This degree of expertise and dexterity in the use of two handed weapons was one factor in creating the "Galloglass", one of the most feared warriors in Europe. An interesting example of the link between Gallowglass warrior and sport can be found on the Cloncha gravestone in Donegal, to a certain Manus McCorristan of Iona. On his grave is carved a Shinty stick, or "caman", and a sword. I believe also there is a guy in the Scottish Highlands, called MacLennan, who still makes replicas of these Cloncha "camans".

While serving as mercenaries on the European Continent the Irish Kern gained a well earned reputation as ferocious warriors. For their outlandish dress, exceptional fierceness & primal disregard for death was famed, & shocked other Western Europeans, who were both intrigued by & frightened of the primitive & fearsome ways of the Irish Kern, back all throughout the 14th, 15th & 16th Centuries. And their skill & prowess with swords, axes & spears was unsurpassed, as they could more than hold their own with even the best & most dexterous of mainland European soldiers. The Irish Kerns were formidable warriors to be reckoned with. Only the mighty Gallowglass & Scots Highlanders were more feared & deadly (all three of whom acquired a reputation of being the Western European equivalent of Japanese Samurais for several centuries!).

Notice anything different? 😁