Elspeth Dubh inghean Dubhghaill

Pronounced: Elspeth Doov nee-yen Doov-hall (she/her)

Elspeth was raised in 12th century Ghlaschu (modern Glasgow) by the monastics of Glasgow’s parish church. As a child, she often spent her days guiding devotees through the small city on their pilgrimage to St Mungo’s tomb and her evenings listening to the prayers of the monks. A war orphan with mixed English/Gaelic heritage, Elspeth found purpose and family in service to the small cathedral until a great and tragic fire destroyed much of the holy site, causing Elspeth to flee.

Elspeth currently lives in Vinjar with her lord husband Kaeso Petronius Gallus.

Early Involvement

Elspeth attended her first feast in the fall of XXXVI (September 2001) and quickly fell in love with the SCA dream. During her university years, she moved to the (then) Shire of Windwyrm and actively assisted in taverns and the May Day Festival, regularly returning to her home in Vinjar for holidays. In the summer of XL (July 2005), Elspeth assisted some good gentles from a northern household (from the region of Nampa, Alberta), in partnership with Vinjar, to host a demonstration and assisted in collecting information for the An Tir Domesday Boke.

From the summer of AS XLII (August 2007) until the summer of AS XLV (August 2010) Elspeth served as Herald for the Shire of Vinjar; at this time Avacal was still a Principality in the great Kingdom of An Tir. She was honoured by Aiden ap Grendal and Issabbella Kendal with an Award of Arms in the summer of AS XLVI (July 2011).

Finding life to be changeable and disallowing of much Society participation, Elspeth has spent the past several years guiding newcomers to more active members, introducing non-SCAdians to the early modern world, and toiling away at her arts. Her most recent explorations include Coptic bookbinding, leather dye, period cookery, medieval spices, and chainmaille.

Interests

 * The Scottish-Gaelic language
 * Pre 13th century Scottish history near the region of Ghlaschu
 * SCA book and voice heraldry
 * Bookbinding and the scribal arts

Awards

 * Award of Arms (Avacal) July 30th, 2011 (AS XLVI)