Liam m'Shemus MacSweeney

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Information
Registered Name: Liam Shemus MacSweeney Resides: Bryn Gwlad Status: Active Joined SCA: 1996
Order of Precedence
Liam Shemus MacSweeney
Heraldry
Azure, a chevron and a chevron inverted braced vert fimbriated argent, in chief a straight trumpet fesswise reversed Or

Honorable Lord Liam m'Shemus MacSweeney, CSM, OSTB, Shadow Dragon Herald:

Nickname(s):
Pronouns: he/she/they/we/him/her/them/us
Also Known As (in Japan): Kiyoyama Tadamune

Offices:

• Local Offices Held
  • Bryn Gwlad Webminister: October 2021 - October 2022
  • Bryn Gwlad Herald (Halberd Pursuivant): January 2022 - December 2023
• Regional Offices held
  • Interim Southern Regional Herald (Solstice Herald): December 2023 - February 2024
  • Southern Regional Herald (Solstice Herald): February 2024 - Present
• Kingdom Offices Held
  • Arbalest Herald: May 2022 - February 2024

Persona History:

Liam was born on May 21, 1477, Cork, County Cork, Ireland to a very poor arm of the family. At 14, fed up with being poor, and dirty, he left home for England to join the King's Navy (Henry VII) and served until leaving as an officer at the age of 21.

In early April of 1499, he met an explorer named Amerigo Vespucci who saw a seasoned disciplined sailor in Liam offered him a position to join him. Liam agreed. He again joined Vespucci in 1501. Returning from both expeditions Liam settled, and bought a homestead in Spain, before leaving again, this time for India with Afonso de Albuquerque in 1503. While on this voyage, he journeyed to Japan, meeting and befriending the daimyo of the Shimazu clan in Satsuma. He returned to his home in Spain in 1505, but kept up regular correspondence with his Japanese friends.

Taking some time off, he returned to his studies of the blade, begun during his time with the English Navy. During this time, his correspondence with Japan increased his yearning to explore that country's culture and traditions.

In 1515, he returned to Japan, where he was met at the docks by the daimyo himself and his retainers. He was presented with a letter of recommendation to other Minamoto clans and retainers of his own. Setting off with these and one Irish retainer of his own, he journeyed from the Southern island of Kyushu to the main island of Honshu. While in Owari Province, he happened upon a young boy being attacked by a bear. Using his skills and training with the blade, Liam saved the boy's life. The boy turned out to be the son of the daimyo of Owari Province. As a reward for his honorable and fortuitous deed, Liam was formally reward with lands of his own in Owari and a Japanese name. He would now be a samurai in leal service to the daimyo and would be known by the name Kiyoyama Tadamune.

Timeline of Activity:

December 1996 - Joined SCA in the Kingdom of the East
August 1997 - First event (Pennsic 26)
March 1999 - Moved to the Kingdom of Ansteorra, Canton of Westgate
May 2003 - Moved to Barony of Bryn Gwlad, Ansteorra
January 2007 - Jan 2009 - Stepped back from physical events, minor contributions to the College of Heralds
January 2009 - Aug 2021 - Personal, reflective hiatus from the SCA
August 2021 - Returned to the SCA after 12 years away
October 2021 - Became Webminister for Barony of Bryn Gwlad
March 2022 - Became Herald for Barony of Bryn Gwlad
June 2022 - Became Arbalest Herald (Submitter Relations/General Help) for the College of Heralds
December 2023 - Became Interim Solstice Herald for the College of Heralds
February 2024 - Became Solstice Herald for the College of Heralds

Prior Groups:

Barony of Settmour Swamp, Kingdom of the East
Incipient Canton of Westgate, Barony of Stargate, Kingdom of Ansteorra

Notable Contributions or Accomplishments:

Granted rank of Herald Extraordiary at Steppes Warlord by Star Pricipal Herald Annais de Montgomerie

Areas of Service

• Heraldry
  • Multiple events at different locations being Herald Coordinator
    • Multi-time Master Herald of Her Queen's List (Queen's Champion)
  • Multitude of hours at Gulf Wars Herald's Point

• Gate
  • Gate Coordinator, 2022 Defender of the Fort
  • Gate Coordinator, 2022 Seawinds Defender

Non-Armigerous Awards and Recognitions:

• Crimson Tear of Bonwicke (Oct 2022)
• Herald Extraordiary (Mastery of Heraldry, granted by Star Principal Herald, Annais de Montgomerie, May 2024)
• Golden Martlet of Bryn Gwlad (Sept 2024)

Mundane Information:

In Case of Court:

In case of court: Prior notification of being called into Court would be preferred for anxiety reasons. I prefer to enter unescorted into Court, unless accompanied by Stefania Pane or Vaduny cel Tradat.

Special Needs:

Allergies: Allergic to most nuts. Does NOT include peanuts, walnuts, and pistachios.