by Swifty on Fri Mar 06, 2009 7:46 pm
You really need the following three books/booklets if you are writing any serious article on Irish Late Medieval swords. Hayes-McCoy gives a good introduction to the subject in 'Sixteenth Century Irish Swords' but he erroneously prescribes a 16thC date to some swords which were later correctly ascribed a 15thC date. Which leads us to Halpin - the most indispensible of the trio - who gives detailed mathematical dimensions and descriptions to all swords then known in the national collection at that time (mid 80's) and not many have been added since incidentally - the unique two handed ring-pommeled sword currently on display at Kildare St being one example of the latter. Wallace is important for the inevitable comparisons with Scottish weapons of contemporary times. All of these volumes are illustrated. Here they are listed:
Hayes-McCoy, G. A., Sixteenth Century Irish Swords in the National Museum of Ireland (Dublin, The Stationery Office, 1977)
Halpin, Andrew, ‘Irish Medieval Swords c. 1170-1600’ �Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 86, C, No. 5 (Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 1986)
Wallace, John, Scottish Swords and Dirks (Arms and Armour Press, 1970)
D Swift www.claiomh.ie c.795-1660