"First use of Cavalry by the Irish.....and minis" Topic
10 Posts
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Uesugi Kenshin  | 23 Sep 2025 7:09 p.m. PST |
So I'm putting together some 15mm minis for the battle of Clontarf. I assumed by that date the Irish would have light cavalry or even small units of medium "Noble" cavalry. I dont have any books on the Medieval Irish however so I tried the old Google search. One answer said definitively that "Nobles" on horseback would have been available at the time of Clontarf. The other result suggested that cavalry was not used until after the Norman invasion/ appearance. So I'm looking for advice from any knowledgeable people on the subject. As an aside, I'm probably going to mainly be using Blue Moon 15s as the majority of my army (for the Irish at least) with some Khurasan Irish used as needed for Command figures and such. So if cavalry of some sort was available, what 15mm miniatures would you recommend that are similar in size and sculpting to the two above mentioned companies? Cheers! |
| DisasterWargamer | 23 Sep 2025 7:42 p.m. PST |
Thistle & Rose 15s are larger like the Old Glory one – Some packs like the Red Branch of Ulster and a couple of other packs of Cavalry link Price lists and more figure pictures at link |
 John the OFM | 23 Sep 2025 7:47 p.m. PST |
As Tyrion Lannister would say, "Make do! Make do!" Why does the miniature have to be specifically "Irish"?
I would think that just about any LC Dark Ages barbarian with a beard and trousers would be appropriate.
Breton? Goth? |
| Uesugi Kenshin | 23 Sep 2025 9:24 p.m. PST |
Oh, it doesn't have to be Irish John! Im more than happy to proxy in minis! I was more worried about getting minis the same size, ie 18mm-ish. @Disaster, thanks Mate! Im having a look at those! PS. More online reading seems to support the presence of Irish Light Cavalry in the 8th or 9th Century, which works for my game. Perhaps only heavier melee oriented Cavalry was developed after contact with the Normans. |
Old Glory  | 23 Sep 2025 9:57 p.m. PST |
Blue Moon does have two calvary packs in the "small dark age armies" --- codes #15SDA-11 and 15SDA-14 that might work? Regards
Russell Dunawsy |
| Fitzovich | 24 Sep 2025 3:35 a.m. PST |
To my understanding Clontarf wax just an infantry slugging match. The horses would have been for leaders prior to them dismounting if there were any at all. I too am working on Clontarf and will do a skirmish level game this week. My research shows no cavalry units present. |
| mildbill | 24 Sep 2025 7:59 a.m. PST |
Dont forget the post battle , we lost the battle so lets go kill Brian Boru skimish game. |
| IanWillcocks | 25 Sep 2025 7:10 a.m. PST |
Not my own knowledge but Phil Barker says that aside from maybe a mounted general, Marcshluag (Gaelic for cavalry) only turn up after 1099? Mostly light horse, tunics, javelin's, small shield and up to a 1/4 heavier nobles with some amour? |
| Uesugi Kenshin | 25 Sep 2025 7:35 p.m. PST |
I saw that too Ian! For what it's worth i have this coming this week:
link I'll pass along any illuminating info. |
| Uesugi Kenshin | 06 Oct 2025 10:45 p.m. PST |
OK, still reading Clontarf. Here's Llywelyns first mention of cavalry,
"He (Brian) mounted his best Captains on horses to increase their mobility, thus creating the first Irish Cavalry" So there's that, But probably not enough to warrant putting Light Cav in the game. |
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