Who Were the Gallowglasses?

In the 12th and 13th centuries, Gallowglasses were Scot mercenaries serving in Ireland. The word 'Gallowglass' would later come to mean, simply, foreigner. 

Despite our strong Scot and Irish ancestry, the members that make up The Gallowglasses are all Americans - foreigners in many ways - to Ireland. Still, we strive to play the tradition music of Ireland and Scotland in ways that are both traditional and new.

Even our instrumentation tips the hat to the old (fiddle, bodhran, vocal) and the new (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, mandola). Mix in our occasional guest appearances by uilleann and border pipes, whistles, flutes, recorders and even kit drums -  the sound becomes much more than just Trad Irish.