Gillebríghde Albanach

Who is Gillebríghde Albanach?

Gillebríghde Albanach was a medieval Scottish poet and crusader. He took part, along with his fellow-Gael Muireadhach Albanach, in the Fifth Crusade, reaching Acre in 1218 or 1219, and following the main Crusader army via southern Cyprus to Damietta; He may have been on crusade until 1224 or after.

When not crusading, Gillebrìghde spent much, if not most, of this life working as a poet in Ireland. His panegyric poems are all dedicated to Irish patrons. We know he was Scottish, however, because of references to Scotland describing it as "duthchas damh", my dúthchas and "dom thír", my country. About seven of his poems survive, five panegyric poems, and two crusading poems.