CRUACHAN - THE BATTLE OF THE YELLOW FORD (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
100‘The Battle of the Yellow Ford’ music video is taken from the latest Cruachan album ‘Nine Years of Blood’, order this plus lots of other merchandise from http://www.trollzorn.de/store
The Battle of the Yellow Ford was fought in County Armagh, Ulster, in Ireland, near the River Blackwater on 14 August 1598. It was fought between the Gaelic native Irish army under Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone and a Crown expeditionary force from Dublin under Sir Henry Bagenal, the commander of the Royal Irish Army. The Crown forces were marching from Armagh to re-supply a besieged fort on the Blackwater when they fell into an ambush and were routed with heavy losses.
In the video, the battle is over, the Irish are victorious. Two Irish Buannachts, are tracking an English captain and rifleman who have become separated from their company as they fled the battle. The rifleman doesn’t realise it but he is out of gun powder, this will be a fair fight in the wild Irish countryside. Before deciding to attack, the Irish captain reflects on who is waiting at home and the importance of victory for the freedom of his country!
Some info on the historically accurate clothes and equipment featured in the video, various items such as swords and helmets are real – over 400 years old, with that in mind we hope you understand why there was no fake blood used in the video:
Irish Buannacht Captain:
The costume is based on an ensemble from a bog find dated c.1590-1630 from Co Derry including doublet (jacket), trews (hose trousers) and brogues (shoes). This part of Ireland was then ruled by the O’Cahan’s who provided many Buannachts (Gaelic Irish professional soldiers) to Hugh O’Neill’s army throughout the Nine Years War. The yellow linen shirt just visible under the doublet, which was traditionally dyed with saffron, was banned by successive Tudor administrations alongside the long Gaelic moustache (the croimeal) and the distinctive Gaelic hairstyle known as the glib – this latter was composed of shorn sides and back with long top and fringe. The ‘target’ shield made of iron represents an import from Hapsburg ruled Spain. Philip II and Philip III of Spain were O’Neill and O’Donnell’s allies during the 9 Years War. The c.1550 side sword is based on an Italian original and the long scian (traditional Irish fighting knife) is based on an archaeological find of a sheath from Kilcumber Co Offaly. In the scene where the captain takes leave of his wife, the helmet he carries is of the Spanish morion type which bore no comb but rather a ‘pear stalk’ finial.
Irish Buannact:
This set of clothes, like that worn by Keith, is based upon surviving finds from Dungiven in Co Derry. The cabasset helmet is the most frequently seen type worn by Irish Buannachts in contemporary drawings of the Nine Years War. Like the comb morion, its origins are probably north Italian and were frequently copied throughout Europe. The leather covered wooden ‘targe’ is 19 inches in diameter and is tooled in Gaelic style and is a copy of an original in a private collection. The traditional Gaelic sword is of native Irish type with a characteristic open ring pommel. This particular example is based on an archaeological find from the Co Antrim side of Lough Neagh. The fringed leather scabbard is also a traditional Gaelic style recorded in both Scotland and Ireland in contemporary drawings.
English Captain:
The burgonet helmet was a sixteenth century development with origins dating back to the earlier sallet or celata. The short fitting undyed linen doublet was a common garment for English soldiers during this period. The baggy grey breeches were known as ‘Venetians’ and contrasted with the close fitting trews worn by the Gael. Heavy leather boots were worn by English cavalry and officers at full length when mounted but were often rolled down when going about on foot. The sword is a long bladed English swept hilt rapier of c.1600 and the long quillioned dagger was designed to block as well as to counterattack.
English Rifleman:
The helmet is of the ‘comb’ morion variety. The design was probably originally Italian but was copied widely throughout Europe. This particular example is in the German ‘black and white’ style. Red was one of the more common colours ascribed to English soldier’s coats at this time. As the Irish wars continued in the late 16th century, coats were more and more often of muted colours to provide some form of camouflage. The matchlock musket was the principle firearm of the English army. It had a greater range than the smaller caliver favoured by the Irish but was more unwieldy.
Cast and Crew:
Irish Buannacht Captain - Keith Fay
Irish Buannact - Dave Swift
English Captain - Kieran Ball
English Rifleman - Mauro Frison
Irish Captains wife - Rachel Lally
Costume, military equipment and historical advisor – Dave Swift (www.claiomh.ie Instagram: @claoimh_ireland)
Camera and editing – Angel Croitor (www.cosmopalace.ie Instagram: @cosmopalace)