Originally Posted by
Mug Ruith
So a medieval Gaelic Irishmen of Gaelic lineage, language, and culture who gets named some English, Welsh, French, or Biblical name ceases to be a Gael? In terms of lineage, we don't know what McAlpin was with absolute certainty but most historians accept he was a Gael. Whatever his origins, his dynasty spoke Gaelic, was culturally Gaelic, traced their lineage to the Dal Riata, was part of the Gaelic Columban Church, and so on. They were Gaels and even seen as such by contemporary Irishmen.