Ever want to learn to use a sword or axe ?

valen

Just wondering; I'm part of a group of historical reenactors that train in Dublin, and we are open to new members.

We do a healthy mix of martial arts, historical crafts and public shows, with the aim of preserving a little of what was lost in the past.

If anyone caught the Grace O'Malley/Grainnemhail documentary on discovery recently, all the extras were Irish reenactors, and we provided pretty much all the clothing, boats and weaponry. It's a mix of everyone from professional archeologists to ex-army people that never lost the need for adrenaline.

About half the reenactors in the country have just finished on the King Arthur film as short weapons specialists. Most people settle for spending the odd weekend in a crannog, talking to the public & putting on WWF style displays, or taking part in international medival combat competitions (Ireland won in Portugal in 2002). The last big trip was supporting the Scots in the Battle of Bannockburn.

If the idea of learning to use a sword, learning how to make a pair of shoes, or hearing how our history really happened interests you, give me a shout, and I can put you in contact with a group in your area. We are everywhere

John

GuanYin

Hrmmmm

STOCS?

Lightoor

Just Axes and swords, not that Swords r the win,
But Bows and Spears, Catapults and various throwing weapons were also a part of ancient culture.

Just wondering do ye get to keep the weapons ;P

valen

Originally posted by Lightoor
Just Axes and swords, not that Swords r the win,
But Bows and Spears, Catapults and various throwing weapons were also a part of ancient culture.

Just wondering do ye get to keep the weapons ;P

Er, yes. We buy/make them. I have a nice 50lb yew longbow - with both metal and rubber heads. Rubber ones for firing on people, obviously. I'm getting some darts made up (like super size arrows), which the Irish medieval troops were famous for using for breaking up formations of cavalry (tipped like http://www.jelldragon.com/images/arrow.jpg). Being a bit more weighty, a dart like that might break a finger if you were dumb enough to try catch it, or ribs, if you weren't quick enough to dive away, but it's good fun.

Some groups, like the Limerick-based society of knights have their own trebuchet, (http://www.societyofknights.tk/). Most Irish people do prefer fighting with the spear - I personally favour a variant called the glaive though, if I've enough armour to get up close & personal (top of the page; http://www.manningimperial.com/item.php?item_id=259&category_id=37&group_id=1).

It's not STOCS or LARP BTW. They use rubber weapons and do points and magic and the like. We try and put on a show for people, or when fighting for private sport, you keep going till the other person takes a kill (something like fencing, only you know you were hit because it was a 5 kilo claymore).

John

Thanx 4 The Fish

Anything in Mayo ?

Would love to twat people around with swords.

Actually what I meant to say was, yes I am very interested in our history and would love to attend some meetings if there were any in Mayo..

valen

None that I know of in Mayo yet. We did a show in westport the summer before last, which was good fun. We may do another next summer. There is a very active group in Leitrim alright, but that might be a bit far to travel for training.

http://moghroith.org/linksf.html

has some links of various groups; it'll be moved to http://livinghistory.ie/ over the next while, and updated.

John

Sarky

I recall the Fantasy/Scifi society in NUI Galway once got a couple of re-enactment fellows up from Cork to do a quick seminar on sword fighting. 'Twas good fun altogether. Must try and get them to do it again soon...

Lightoor

No **** !! in leitrim, where i live, and i didnt know it !

Fawk !

Them French Heavy Weapons u were on about look very nice !!
especially the Godenac $200 & Blued crescent axe with back spike $180.

I've (admittingly ) made my own bows from Ash, which (with the more skilled i got) could fly far enough, but not accuratly.
IF you aimed far, you could shoot it along the lines of 3-400 foot.
Accurately ... around 20 foot.


I'd really like to fire a proper Yew bow tho , with a nice Light sword in holster also.

Pretty cool stuff !!

-Light

valen

Originally posted by Lightoor
No **** !! in leitrim, where i live, and i didnt know it !

Heh. Again, if you need contact details, let me know.

Them French Heavy Weapons u were on about look very nice !!
especially the Godenac $200 & Blued crescent axe with back spike $180.

A back spike is crap. It gets caught on everything. It's only good if you are looking to punch through 3mm steel helms. If you have a decent beard on the axe, you can pull a shield out of someones hand, or hook it on maille and pull them off balance. Much neater.

I've (admittingly ) made my own bows from Ash, which (with the more skilled i got) could fly far enough, but not accuratly.
IF you aimed far, you could shoot it along the lines of 3-400 foot.
Accurately ... around 20 foot.

Heh. With a dart, you can get decent accuracy and speed at 100 meters, and with a yew bow, maybe 200, with training. It's a lot harder with the bow though.

If you do want a decent bow, there is a bowyer up leitrum direction alright, and one in Kilkenny (who made mine).

I'd really like to fire a proper Yew bow tho , with a nice Light sword in holster also.

http://www.irisharms.ie made my ringsword, it's a Paul Binns blade, so is exceptionally light and strong. Well, the blade anyway. A piece broke off one of the quillions during a fight in tewksbury - I was upset at the time, but anything fast enough to cut off bronze would have made sh1te of my hand

John