What is HEMA?

HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) is about learning fencing techniques based on historical (European) manuscripts for a variety of weapons and fighting styles. Learn how to safely hit your friends (and people who may become your friends soon) with swords, and have fun! It’s good for both your body and your mind.

While it helps to have a certain level of base fitness, HEMA is for everyone at every level of physical ability, and it is entirely up to you how intense a training session is going to be. Do you want to prepare for a tournament and push yourself to your limits in sparring? Or would you prefer to go gentle and focus on techniques? It is entirely your choice.

About Dublin HEMA Club

Dublin HEMA Club was founded in 2012 by Neil Byrne and was one of the first HEMA clubs in Ireland.

Our two main weapons are German Longsword, following all KDF manuscripts including Meyer, and Sword & Buckler, primarily drawing from the i.33 manuscript and some Liechtenauer.

Aside from our regular training sessions, we also organise optional social events. These range from going to the pub after training, to movie marathons on a Saturday afternoon, to cheese tastings, to fencing weekends away with a small group.

In our club, everyone regardless of gender, nationality, age (aside from our minimum requirement of 16), or religion is welcome to join!

Our Coaches:

Longsword: Sam Hughes, Oisín Newport
Sword and Buckler: Neil Byrne

We are currently in the process of introducing Sabre and Rapier.

Classes & Training

Our regular classes (Sword & Buckler and Longsword) are twice a week from 20:00-22:00 on Monday and Friday.

On Sundays, we offer sparring from 12:00-14:00 if at least 4 people attend. These sparring classes are open to any HEMAI members and come at an extra fee (cost of the hall rental split by the number of people, max. €20 per person).

Additionally, we are currently running a trial of Thursday classes from 19:00-21:00 with a changing programme which will be announced at the beginning of every month. The focus of these classes will mainly be sabre, rapier, staff, and wrestling/ringen.

The cost for classes is €50 per month reduced to €40 per month for students. There is also an annual insurance and membership fee of €60.

If you are a HEMA fencer visting from abroad and would like to attend one of our classes, please get in touch via dublinhemaclub@gmail.com.

For more information please see our FAQs and event pages.

Location

St. Catherine’s Sports Centre
Marrowbone Lane,
Dublin 8

New Members

Interested in joining our club? There are two ways to do so.

As our club does not offer walk-in classes, to join you must complete either a one day Beginners Workshop OR attend an 8 week Beginners Course, which run periodically. Beginner workshops run on a Saturday from 9:30-16:00 where you will be taught the fundamental basics of German longsword fencing. The workshop costs €50 and cover the equivalent of the 8-10 week Beginners Course. Once you have completed either a workshop or the 8 week course, you will then be eligible to join our club as a full member and attend all training classes.

All new joiners, for insurance reasons, must be over 16, and anyone under 18 must have a parent/guardian speak to our coaches first.

Otherwise all you need to attend training is:

• Wear comfortable clothes to exercise in

• Bring a water bottle

We will provide the rest!

We are currently at full capacity!

Registration for our Beginners Workshop is now closed, and will only re-open once we have gone through the existing waitlist. However, if you still want to be added to the list regardless, feel free to use the following form.

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