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Piotr Postol

Forget Mixed Martial Arts - check out Medieval Armoured Combat...

The first Medieval Combat Tournament to be fought in Ireland in 400 years is coming to Galway – and the people behind the sport take it very seriously.

THERE ISN’T A man or woman among us who hasn’t experienced medieval fighting via the movie screen, and occasionally the recreation of historical events even makes it into modern-day pop culture.

But did you know that there are dedicated individuals who practice combat with ancient weapons? As a sport?

You better believe it because there’s a full-scale tournament coming to Ireland – and it looks, frankly, violent. It also looks like great fun, if a little intimidating.

This is pure hand-to-hand fighting, full contact with medieval weapons and armour (25 kg worth of combat paraphernalia in all) and little other flair attached.

It’s pretty much no-holds-barred, with throws, kicks and headbutts all legal and above board. Not to mention the weapons. Swords, axes, maces, and shields. Gulp.

11707785_418086948396357_2374312702867404764_n

“I started training for the sport about two or three years ago, and that culminated in the team taking part in the world championships last year in Malbork, Poland,” Brendan Halpin, vice captain with Medieval Armoured Combat Ireland (MACI) tells TheJournal.ie. 

Ballincollig native Halpin holds a masters degree in archaeology – it was during his study of ancient weapons and combat archaeology that he picked up a taste for using them for real.

“It was a logical progression of my studies really,” he says.

Claregalway Castle / Facebook

The weapons used by the combatants are all recreated in eastern Europe where apparently they’re cheaper to reproduce.

“When it comes to full contact stuff, they’ve been doing it over there for a lot longer than we have here,” says Halpin.

IMG_7849 Melee combat

So how does it work?

It depends upon the kind of fight. There’s two kinds: melee fighting and one-on-one, both fought over the best of three rounds. With the melees it’s a case of last man standing – if you hit the ground you’re out.
One-on-one is scored like boxing. You score with solid blows only, with points awarded for each.

Frankly, it sounds dangerous.

It’s not really, I’d equate it to rugby in terms of risk. The injuries don’t come often, but obviously, as with any sport, you’ve a risk of strains, muscle pulls, that kind of thing. But I’ve never seen a serious injury.
When it comes to the fight, it’s the old adage but it’s true, the fighter who loses his temper will lose the fight. It’s all about controlled aggression.

Claregalway poster 2 Piotr Postol Piotr Postol

In fact Halpin says the most difficult thing involved is the breathing. “You have to train yourself to breathe with this huge visor clamping down on you – it takes a bit of getting used to.”

Halpin and his compatriots at MACI have organised the first such combat tournament to hit Ireland for 400 years – and it’s coming to Claregalway Castle, Co Galway over the weekend of 19 and 20 September.

It won’t be a huge event – maybe  20 fighters, but they’re coming from far afield (representatives from the UK, Spain, and even Quebec will be making a bow).

world champ Winner takes all at the world championships in Malbork, Poland Medieval Armoured Combat Ireland Medieval Armoured Combat Ireland

It looks and sounds fascinating, while Halpin’s enthusiasm is clear and infectious.

“The first time you go up against someone you don’t know you think ‘this is the stupidest possible thing I could be doing with my time’,” he says.

Then you come out the other side having gone full tilt and it’s the best thing – pure adrenaline and exhilaration.

Read: One of Ireland’s best high crosses is 1,200 years old and hidden in a small Kildare village

Read: One of Ireland’s best medieval castles was the scene of a bitter showdown between two brothers

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9 Comments
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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jan 10th 2015, 7:52 AM

    Trampolines are having a ball playing musical gardens too.

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Jan 10th 2015, 7:37 AM

    Isn’t it about time that power lines were buried ?

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    Mute Jennie
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    Jan 10th 2015, 7:46 AM

    Why so they can pose more of a threat to farmers and construction workers?
    Best kept in plain sight.

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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jan 10th 2015, 7:53 AM

    More killed by overhead cables Jennie.

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    Mute Keaneland
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:44 AM

    Where did you hear that Mark?

    Because almost all our medium to high voltage lines are overhead so naturally this poses more of a risk. But we have far more cable strikes from underground cables than from overhead cables. Irish water workers for example tend to have 300 to 400 cable strikes a month, all underground.

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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:55 AM

    And just how many deaths came from those 300 to 400 cable strikes a month Keane? Thank you.

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    Mute Keaneland
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:32 AM

    You missed the point Mark. The deaths will come if you star sticking the high voltage lines underground. Even the Dutch who pretty much have 100% low to medium voltage lines underground, will not put high voltage lines underground.

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    Mute Joe
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:48 AM

    Great idea, only cost about a few billion, maybe we could levy the consumers.

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    Mute David Conway
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    Jan 10th 2015, 12:18 PM

    It costs too much to put cables underground. Overhead are easier to maintain. The odd downed power line is a easier price to pay than ducting the whole country.

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    Mute Stephen Earle
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    Jan 11th 2015, 12:29 AM

    Did you consider the unbelievable cost of burying all such cables? C’mon!!

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    Mute Nobby Donnelly
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    Jan 10th 2015, 11:36 AM

    “Our whole wall fell down..” Well im not surprised since you effectively fixed a timber sail to it from what I can see in the photo.

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    Mute Martin O'Rourke
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:56 AM

    Very windy in Donegal my house moved a yard last night!

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    Mute little jim
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    Jan 10th 2015, 10:30 AM

    My house took in the front lawn.

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    Mute Nell foran
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:57 AM

    Was in meath yesterday and two enormous trees fell on the road in front of the car only missed us by a couple of feet. Scary

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    Mute Derek Byrne
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:40 AM

    I don’t think were in Kansas anymore Toto.

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:11 AM

    And wheelie bins!

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:19 AM

    Our wheelie bins were like a couple of R2D2′s last night…being blown around aimlessly

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    Mute Catherine Mayock
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    Jan 10th 2015, 3:30 PM

    Well batten down the hatches cause it aint over.

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    Mute Liam Mangan
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    Jan 10th 2015, 6:37 PM

    To the driver of the jeep on m9 dublin carlow yesterday for making shit of my car when your plastic material flew out including ratchet straps , my bumper grills spot lights and drivers light (€1600) also 2 other cars damaged, you pulled over down the motorway realised what you done jumped back in and sped off , shame on you, we could have been killed, and it’s me that has to somehow pay for this for your thickness

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    Mute Helen Downey
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    Jan 11th 2015, 1:06 AM

    That is honestly disgusting that they didn’t take responsibility for their crap.

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    Mute Tommy Shannon
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    Jan 10th 2015, 10:23 AM

    Turn on the washing machines
    There’s great drying out !!

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    Mute Jennie
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:11 AM

    That’s because none are underground.
    So obviously yes more are killed by overhead cables.
    If they’re underground you’ll all be giving out that they’ll limit what you can do with your land too much. Ie building works etc.
    And if something goes wrong it’ll be a much bigger job to fix. Digging up cable to try and find the break. Relaying the whole length. Etc

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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:43 AM

    I think if you look, most cities and towns, and certainly all newer developments, have now buried the cables. This has led to far less disruption and far fewer deaths. It isn’t that difficult to map where power lines are buried.

    As an aside, overhead cables are an unsightly blight on our landscape.

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    Mute Jennie
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:17 AM

    *to sorry

    Also it’ll do a huge amount of damage to the landscape and the environment laying them underground in the first place….

    Out of sight, Out of mind isn’t always the best policy

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    Mute Foxtrot Hotel
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    Jan 10th 2015, 1:12 PM

    Everyone starts juicing and detoxing after new years: giant uptake in wind speeds. Coincidence? I think not.

    Kevin Hunt really exposing some shoddy workmanship on that wall. It’s only a bit of wind.

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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Jan 10th 2015, 2:43 PM

    Well I didn’t build the wall?! and the neighbors had the fence not us

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    Mute Davin Lynch
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    Jan 10th 2015, 2:53 PM

    And tell your neighbour it’s time to put the crimbo decorations away.

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    Mute Foxtrot Hotel
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    Jan 10th 2015, 3:46 PM

    I didn’t say you, Kev. I said you exposed shoddy workmanship.

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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:09 PM

    Oh sorry haha, Ye I guess so!

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    Mute Paul Smith
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    Jan 10th 2015, 11:14 AM

    Snow in Fermangh. Not settling but great to look at

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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    Jan 10th 2015, 3:38 PM

    Bit of snow here in Cavan, just enough to lightly dust an annoyed cat.

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    Mute Veronica
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    Jan 10th 2015, 10:01 AM

    Thankfully we escaped it in cork but was quite windy for a time but it blew itself out late last night

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    Mute Andy Patton
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    Jan 10th 2015, 11:31 AM

    #JeSuisKevinHunt

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    Mute Dylan Neary
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:54 AM

    There was a might wind in co Louth after that hot curry last night

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    Mute Dylan Neary
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:55 AM

    “Mighty”

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    Mute Emily Morris
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:02 AM

    Our trampoline hasntlufted a finger yet! youd think it would have blown to the next county with these winds lol!

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    Mute Eoin Dixon Murphy
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    Jan 11th 2015, 12:32 PM

    Go home snowman, you are drunk.

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    Mute Martinp Hoey
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    Jan 10th 2015, 10:58 AM

    That’s the problem with Irish water not obeying safety legislation when digging holes in footpaths

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    Mute SCO Electrical
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    Jan 10th 2015, 12:23 PM

    It depends alot on the machine driver. I work with one who could stir your tea with a 13 Tonne machine. I’ve worked with other lads you wouldn’t trust digging a hole with a teaspoon.

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    Mute Paul Parsons
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    Jan 11th 2015, 2:03 AM

    Short hairy and fat. Perfectly adapted for this weather. Form an orderly que ladies.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 11th 2015, 1:25 AM

    If the night of the big wind happened in 1839 (6th Jan) then if it happened again with global warming, what would we do?

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