Irish Stick Fighting – Der Weg zu den Wurzeln
A documentary film about the history, culture, and present day of one of Europe's oldest martial arts: Bataireacht, traditional Irish stick fighting with the legendary shillelagh.
Join us on a journey from the ancient walls of King John's Castle in Limerick to the legendary town of Shillelagh and the Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester.
We visit historic sites such as Redwood Castle, the ancestral home of the Clan Egan (now Keegan), and meet Simon Keegan – Mac Aodhagáin of Tethbae, head of the Keegan Bata style, one of the few schools that has completely preserved the original family tradition.
The film describes the Keegan Bata school in detail – its techniques, its philosophy, its connection to the ancient Brehon laws, and the passing on of these values in the modern world.
Irish stick fighting is now much more than self-defense:
it stands for culture, community, and personal development—open to children, adults, and older people seeking inner strength, mindfulness, and joie de vivre.
Chapter overview:
00:00 – Introduction & history of Bataireacht
00:36 – King John's Castle & Shillelagh – the origins
01:00 – What is Irish stick fighting?
01:17 – Where does the shillelagh come from?
01:32 – Making the shillelagh
02:10 – The Keegan Bata school – history
02:21 – Redwood Castle & the Egan and Keegan clans
04:16 – White Feed and the factional fighting
05:18 – Irish stick fighting today – culture, people, and values
06:47 – Keegan Bata today
07:09 – Conclusion – The path to the roots
📍 Locations:
Limerick • Shillelagh (Wicklow) • Redwood Castle • Manchester
👤 Featuring:
Simon Keegan – Mac Aodhagáin of Tethbae, Head of the Keegan Bata
📚 Recommended reading:
Karate Jutsu: History and Evolution of the Okinawan Martial Art 👉 https://amzn.to/42AnbXT (*)
Pennine Dragon: The Real King Arthur of the North 👉 https://amzn.to/4ofxPvq (*)
DNA of the Celts 👉 https://amzn.to/4n1gl51 (*)
Irish stick fighting is not a forgotten art, but a living heritage.
It is a way that combines combat, culture, and character—and shows that Ireland's roots extend into the present day.
The links marked with (*) are affiliate links through which we receive a small commission if you make a purchase. This does not incur any additional costs for you, but you support us by using these links to make your purchase. Thank you.
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