Do the Irish wear an Axe, Not Skien Dubh?

[Moosehead]

Could she have possible said "***" instead of axe???

I have a small one at the top of my hose.

[Caradoc]

It came to my attention (by way opinion of a very bonnie Scottish lass drinking with me) that the Irish wear an small axe down the hose instead of the skien dubh. Never have I heard of this so I did some net searching and have only sourced that the Irish hired Scottish mercenaries during the C13-14 called the Galloglaich. These warriors favourd a 6 foot handled axe now termed a sparth:

This image seemed the most true to the description as the hook was used to dismount cavalry. Nasty and effective. But Down your sock?
Anyone know about this at all?
Erin

The image shown looks more like an early Lochaber axe, not a Sparth axe. The Sparth generally has more curve to the blade, and doesn't have the hook on the back.

The image URL itself that you've used to get the picture says "Lochabaraxe.jpg" is the filename.

Sparth Axe
Lochaber Axe

[ozmeath]

Caradoc thanks for the clarification there.I'd say it was the lochaber that was used, from the description of the fighting techniques used.
Moosehead, nice one.