Active history-lovers wanted

valen

I'm part of a Dublin-based historical reenactment group, and we are
currently looking for new members. If you, or someone you know, has an
interest in on or more of the following:

Martial arts
History
Crafts
Teaching
Travelling
Partying

Let me know! We teach spear, sword, axe, polearms, archery, javelins
& hand to hand combat, using slightly safer versions of medieval
techniques (like no stabbing in the face, but the belly is fair
game!). Though there was someone injured with a trebuchet-launched
turnip this year....

To give an idea of what we are about...

Heavy Irish Infantry, as mercenaries in England, taking a fort:
http://www.livinghistory.ie/~doug/temple/web/28.html

Early Christian Irish & Irish Vikings trading in Denmark:
http://livinghistory.ie/~valen/roskilde/web/

A motley crew of irish light infantry, fighting for English:
http://www.livinghistory.ie/~valen/reenactment_images/berkeley/web/28.html

Irish Viking Craftspeople in Northern Italy
http://www.livinghistory.ie/~valen/ispra/web/1.html

Headbanging to hardcore scottish pipe & drum bands in Tewksbury, England:
http://www.livinghistory.ie/~valen/tewksbury/web/5.html

We've had Irish, Scots, Polish, Germans, French in our group - as we
are a mercenary group, we encourage people to research & dress like
those of their homelands. When we go abroad, we've fought with mongols
agains germans, with celts against romans. And amongst each other, of
course. Everyone has a trade (I make chainmail, leather boots, and
mead), everyone has a hundred friends. It's the best hobby in the
world.

If you are interested, let me know.

John

Riamfada

Id be very interested. PMed you for more info

valen

Most of the people that do reenactment are either martial arts, ex military, gamers or history types. And they love fantasy stuff; there is only so much lord of the rings you can watch, before you want to pick up a finely crafted double handed axe, and pummel the **** out of someone with it.

Or maybe that's just me.

John

azezil

Well now, thats just crazy enough to peak my interest, alas I'm rather lazy and like to bath.

Neesha

Ah that sounds mental, pity there isn't anything like that in Cork:(

valen

Cork ? Of course there are. A big group in UCC. If you are feeling idle on Saturday the 28th of January, drop by the college, and check them out beating each other to a pulp;

http://livinghistory.ie/modules.php?op=modload&name=Calendar&file=index&type=view&eid=43

Think "capture the flag" in Quake ... only you have to cream them with a spear or axe before you can take the flag. It's run the same weekend as Warpcon every year.

John

Neesha

That sounds great, I'll definately go to see that..

BlackWizard

That looks amazing!!!

Do you have events like this during the summer?

And I only have the odd katanna lying about the house and im highly skilled with
a hammer but ive no swords or axes. Would I have to buy a sword?

valen

Check out the photos at http://livinghistory.ie/modules.php?name=Gallery - there are pictures from various summer events.

This summer, the ones I'd like to concentrate on are a viking market in Norway (no fighting), Bannockburn in scotland (go as the the Norman Red Earl of Ulster's men supporting Edward II), Duncannon in Waterford (O'Neill's Gallowglass and Kern at http://waterfordmilitary.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=21) and a mix of Irish & Viking fighters at the Magnus Barelegs festival (http://www.montague.ie/magnusphotos04.htm) and the many small shows in the Heritage park just north of Wexford.

Other maybes are Herstmonceux Castle (Irish men-at-arms mercenaries at http://www.herstmonceux.com/medieval/) and maybe the insanity that is Tintagel (various battles of camelyn; picts & romans vs. saxons, and later the high-medieval version).

The katana wouldn't that much good - we only do Irish stuff, most of the time. So, it's more scians, axes, ringswords and the odd spear. That said, it's still cheap to get started - 100 worth of linen and wool, and fifty on enough leather to make shoes. After that, the weapons are optional. Start cheap - get a stout spear for 60, or go the whole hog, and blow 3k on a suit of armour, and 600 on your swords, 2k on tents, a forge, fireboxes etc. etc.. I'd advise dropping up to a training session or event before doing anything crazy though. This is the first year I've been able to make the hobby pay for itself by making mead & shoes.

John

jimbo4711

Hi, I'd be very interesred in joining your group. I've studied history for many years and I believe I could contribute something to the group. I'm also very good at drinking mead or ale but not so good at fighting, but I do have some musical ability.

Jimbo

bigeasyeah

looks like good fun!

Lizzykins

Anything for the ladies to do? I've always fancied being Eleanor of Aquitaine for a day!!

BossArky

You may want to PM or email the original poster user. The thread is 3+ years old.

Dionysus

hehe. This is like that movie that was in the cinema a couple of months ago. You actually exist in Ireland as well - great stuff!

Denerick

Sounds like deadly craic... would feel a bit silly at it though!

valen

Yes, exactly like that film "Faintheart"... there are those that take it far too seriously. Like.. http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/viking.html

There are things for ladies to do; we train women as short weapons specialists, archers, some prefer just to run kitchens, bead-making furnaces, or tailoring. I think there are at least three women in this photo; http://pix.ie/kamilkrawczak/1076227/in/album/346995 (a viking battle in Bunratty earlier this year).

We are actually thinking of doing an '8 week introductory combat' course sometime this autumn in Dublin. So, let me know if you are interested.

John