Royal Galloglas Guard
Encyclopedia
The Royal Eóghanacht Galloglas Guard is the private army of self-styled Irish chieftain, James Shortt, The Baron of Castleshort. The organisation claimed tenuous links to the Scottish mercenaries of The Dark Ages, though quite how has never been explained.
Despite Shortt's claims that the Guard "is one of the oldest existing bodyguard formations in the world" it did not actually predate 1995. In a nutshell, it appeared to be nothing more than a (six-strong) drinking club with a kilt fixation, similar to the Legion of Frontiersmen, but with a distinct Irish.
Members of this organisation had the curious (and amusing) propensity to translate their names in to faux Irish: American officer David Riley Stabler becoming the pretentious An Ceannfort de díorma An Ridire Coirnéad Dáibhi Raighilleigh MacStablanach after one serious vowel movement. Their website is also littered with other unpronounceable pseudo-Gaelic gibberish. It goes without saying that this was potentially a great way of fleecing cash off gullible, naive Irish-Americans, not that such goings on were actually taking place.
According to their own website: “The Galloglach are drawn exclusively from Irish Gentlemen who are graduates of the International Bodyguard Association or qualified gentlemen of Irish descent. Membership is by invitation only.” This was apparently open to interpretation since the “Guard” had in the past included the German director of IBA Deutschland and Thomas Bermudez ( “part Hispanic (Mexican), part Native American (Indian), part Irish and part something else.”) Other members included an SS reenactor and Shortt’s two sons.
The RGG reached a high point in March 1999 when no less than nine members participated in the New York St Patrick’s Day parade. From then on membership continued to dwindle and today the entire Royal Galloglas Guard consists only of Shortt himself.
Officers
Companions
But you have to love an organisation with 1 soldier, 3 officers under training (note - not even the 'official' Galloglas rank of 'Cadet'), and still led by a "Coirnéal Brigadier General". When you then realise that the name of the aforesaid 1-star was "Oliver Lumsden Peacock", the laughter begins to hurt.
Note from the lone surviving detachment member: No real fleecing occurred, fortunately, though there was a chance of it instead, insignia and uniforms were sourced in the same way American Civil War officers had done so years before: by having members buy their own. Thus, it was never really profitable for the RGG home office to venture into the Americas, but it was a serious money drain for those wanting to dress up. I never got around to buying the last bits of the fancy dress uniform, and that is a real pity as it would have been nice for the occasional costume party.
Despite Shortt's claims that the Guard "is one of the oldest existing bodyguard formations in the world" it did not actually predate 1995. In a nutshell, it appeared to be nothing more than a (six-strong) drinking club with a kilt fixation, similar to the Legion of Frontiersmen, but with a distinct Irish.
Members of this organisation had the curious (and amusing) propensity to translate their names in to faux Irish: American officer David Riley Stabler becoming the pretentious An Ceannfort de díorma An Ridire Coirnéad Dáibhi Raighilleigh MacStablanach after one serious vowel movement. Their website is also littered with other unpronounceable pseudo-Gaelic gibberish. It goes without saying that this was potentially a great way of fleecing cash off gullible, naive Irish-Americans, not that such goings on were actually taking place.
According to their own website: “The Galloglach are drawn exclusively from Irish Gentlemen who are graduates of the International Bodyguard Association or qualified gentlemen of Irish descent. Membership is by invitation only.” This was apparently open to interpretation since the “Guard” had in the past included the German director of IBA Deutschland and Thomas Bermudez ( “part Hispanic (Mexican), part Native American (Indian), part Irish and part something else.”) Other members included an SS reenactor and Shortt’s two sons.
The RGG reached a high point in March 1999 when no less than nine members participated in the New York St Patrick’s Day parade. From then on membership continued to dwindle and today the entire Royal Galloglas Guard consists only of Shortt himself.
Ranks
NB: Nine ranks among nine personnel.Officers
- Ardcheannasaí - Colonel-Commandant [No such word: although Cheannasa means 'Controller' it is not a military rank]
- Coirnéal - Colonel of the Watch
- Ceannfort - Commandant
- Captaen - Captain
- Coirnéad - Cornet
- Dalta - Cadet
Companions
- Aidiúnach - Adjutant [not a rank, "Aidiúnach" refers more to an officer's appointment]
- Corparáil - Corporal [Actually the correct Gaelic is Ceannaire]
- Garda an Rí - Guard [This actually means "King's Guard]
Saint Breándan Detachment
Knowing how the US love Ireland, it goes without saying that there's rich pickings to be had, though. It would seem. however, that was never really exploited to its full potential: North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean, fall under the operational area of 'The Saint Breandán Detachment.' Quite a tasking for six Americans.But you have to love an organisation with 1 soldier, 3 officers under training (note - not even the 'official' Galloglas rank of 'Cadet'), and still led by a "Coirnéal Brigadier General". When you then realise that the name of the aforesaid 1-star was "Oliver Lumsden Peacock", the laughter begins to hurt.
Note from the lone surviving detachment member: No real fleecing occurred, fortunately, though there was a chance of it instead, insignia and uniforms were sourced in the same way American Civil War officers had done so years before: by having members buy their own. Thus, it was never really profitable for the RGG home office to venture into the Americas, but it was a serious money drain for those wanting to dress up. I never got around to buying the last bits of the fancy dress uniform, and that is a real pity as it would have been nice for the occasional costume party.