Historical Gaeldom - A perspective

I just started to read a book entitled "Kenneth" by Nigel Tranter.  I'd seen the name before because he wrote a historical fiction about Somerled.    So when I spotted the book for 25¢ at the local Friends of the Library I had to jump at the chance.  Helps that it is about one of my other many Gaelic Ancestors and none other then Kenneth Mac Alpin the Famous leader of the the Dal Riata and Picts.  At times called a Nation builder since we join the two groups together politically for the first time or so they say.





What I find interesting is the many different cross cutting details provided from this book and the general history of Gaeldom as we know it.   It is said that the Scottish kingdom of Dal Riata was settled by some Irish (possibly in Exile) back who knows how far.   And thus this spread eventually to cover all of what we now call Scotland.  But, the ever mysterious Picts are in the middle of all this. along with the mixed area like Galloway.

Due to poor record keeping or the mists of time the real details are a bit sketchy.    What is clear is that the language spoken in the Highlands of Scotland today is very much similar to the Gaelic of Ireland so there had to be some connection.  When exactly this connection began and to what extent it is hard to tell.  It goes back to an age of legends and Legendary leaders like Cormac Mac Airt, Fergus Mór mac Eirc, St. Columba and St. Patrick.  This connection carried on well into the 16th century with the employment of the Galloglass mercenaries in

Ireland that in many cases came from the clans of the highland.  And then there was the concerted effort to import Scots into northern Ireland during the plantations phase, hoping to supplant the local catholic population.

Diagram of Celtic languages of British Isles
(Michael Newton, 2008) - http://sites.stfx.ca/celtic_studies/hist_gaelic_scotland

One thing I find interesting in the book by Nigel Tranter is the mention of Kilts early on in the book.  It is not very clear when exactly kilts came into being.
 "- It being not difficult to tell which was which, for the Gaels all wore tartans, plaids, jerkins, kilts.  Most men were fighting on foot, hand-to-hand, the preferred method in close combat."
Kenneth - Nigel Tranter Page 26

But by the 16th century they were present in Scotland.  They got banded at one point and by the good fortune of a couple of English men were reintroduced in the 18th century.  But, the kilt came from Ireland in fact and cross the Irish sea at some unknown time.  But, that is the great part of historical fiction.  You can meld together the known facts and fill in the gaps with stuff that makes sense.  it makes sense that a form of dress that would be come so wide spread in the highlands would have been present there for many years, alas decades if not centuries before we have it recorded down by foreigners.  What would have changed so drastically that the populous would have gone from some kind of pants to a start using a kilt?   That is a good question.  In reality the change must have been gradual and based on a need for some type of clothing like the Brat.
Thus the details are shrouded in the mists of time..... so we will never really know for sure.




I'm reminded of a conversation I once had with a client on the phone - good old Sean Mcmannus of the Irish National Caucus (some type of political group for sure) who just had to make sure I knew that good old Finn MacCoul was not real. 
However, he would have had to talk the better part of a day to prove his point and in the end he probably could not conclusively prove it so.   This is one area that most of the known material is sketchy at best, and very much in the realm of legend.  How in reality would believe that if you suck on your thumb down to the bone you can obtain the wisdom necessary to get out of any situation just because you touched a hot, blistering Salmon of knowledge while it was cooking?   But, we know the Fianna did exist.  So that is the part that makes thing complicated. 

So as I dive into the mists of time and try to piece together what I can about those ancient kingdoms of Dál Riata, Alba, Galloway and the such I find more questions then answers.  But, I continue to find fascinating things out at every turn.  And this can help me better appreciate the many good historical fictions written by such authors as Morgan Llywelyn and Nigel Tranter.



So here is to all our brothers - lost in time or not throughout all of Gaeldom - Picti, Caledonnii, Cumbrians, Albannach, Scoti, Hiberni, Dalriadian, Gallovidian, and Lochlannaich of the Hebridean Isles

You have all left us with a rich history.  May we be worthy of this honor.

If you'd like to see if your related to any of these great historical figures check out my post on Are You Related to Someone Famous

Buaidh - NO - Bas