HEMA Ireland acts as an umbrella body for the following HEMA Clubs and Groups. All have instructors who have been assessed by HEMA Ireland, and all HEMA Ireland members follow our Code of Conduct and Policies.
All of our groups have their own joining and recruitment procedures: some accept drop-ins, some run beginners courses on a regular basis, some have permanent foundation classes. They’re always happy to hear from new faces, so the best way of getting involved is to reach out to one of the schools on the links below and say hello!
The clubs below are divided by region: Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connacht.
Ulster
Medieval Combat Group – Belfast
Medieval Combat Group Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They provide weekly classes, group lessons, and private tuition in 15th century medieval swordcraft and martial arts. The group also undertake public demonstrations and HEMA based outreach and host an annual residental HEMA event, Bladeworks. The club emphasises a balance of technical progression and in-depth training, and a good inclusive community atmosphere. The main weapons trained are longsword and messer (a short single edged sword), and on occasion staff, and sword & buckler.
Munster
The Wrathful Peasants are a small HEMA club based in East Clare. Our teaching focuses on German Longsword, regimental sabre, sidesword, smallsword and, more recently rapier. We offer beginners courses, weekly training sessions and run annual competitive events. Our aim is to offer an inclusive environment for anybody who wants to develop their swordspersonship in a friendly, social atmosphere.
Blademasters Academy – Cork & Limerick
Blademasters Academy is a Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) club based in the south of Ireland with branches in Cork and Limerick.
Training in German Longsword, Military Sabre and Bolognese Sidesword with additional classes on spear/polearms, dagger and ringen.
They offer beginners courses, organize weekly training sessions and host international HEMA events.
Leinster
Dublin HEMA Club are one of the oldest HEMA clubs in Ireland. Located in Dublin City Centre, they train weekly in the Longsword, teaching from Late Medieval and Early Modern German sources of the ‘Liechtenauer tradition’, and in the Sword and Buckler, using the earliest fencing manual known from Medieval Europe: i.33 (known as the ‘Walpurgis Fechtbuch’). Their members also train with other weapons including Italian Rapier and British Military Sabre.
Historical Combat Academy – Dublin
The Historical Combat Academy train in authentic Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) from the 15th and 16th centuries, specialising in the fighting techniques and strategy of the Renaissance Master, Pietro Monte. They mainly train in two-handed sword/longsword with other weapons such as poleaxe, single sword and sword and buckler periodically.
Beginners are very welcome and they run regular starter sessions. Get in touch to find out more.
Noble Science Academy – Dublin
The Dublin branch of the Noble Science Academy is a school for historical swordsmanship operating in Dublin city. The Noble Science Academy offers a wide range of weapons including German and Italian longsword, Italian rapier, military saber, and Italian rondel dagger. Students can expect to challenge both their body and their mind at the Noble Science Academy!
Kern School of Combat – Dublin
Based in south Dublin, Kern School of Combat’s sole focus is Irish based martial arts. Their main focus is Irish stick fighting being the oldest club teaching it in Ireland and the only one teaching two of the surviving styles. They also study Irish sources for collar and elbow wrestling, broadsword, smallsword and pike.
Goat’s Head Historical Fencing – Wexford
Goats Head Historical Fencing is a historical European martial arts (HEMA) club based in the southeast of Ireland with chapters in Wexford and Waterford. Goats Head offer a fun, alternative way to get fit and learn to sword fight, and their primary area of focus is longsword.
Connacht
The Exiles Galway are a branch of The Exiles Company of Medieval Martial Artists (CMMA). We teach a full curriculum based on Fiore’s manuscripts, dating to the late 14th – early 15th century, covering wrestling, dagger, sword, spear, and poleaxe, as well as armoured combat. We’re open to all levels of experience and ability and we are always eager to put a sword in your hand.
Gaillimh Galloglaigh are based in Galway city, Renmore, they run classes every Tuesday in Renmore Community Centre. They run introductory courses in Longsword, but branch into Sabre, Rapier, Smallsword, Sword and Buckler, Spear, Dagger, and Axe. They attend Medieval festivals Bringing Hema to the public. They operate Study Groups in Third level, called Scholar Blades. They also run a youth group in HEMA, the ceithrenn coillte.