2nd ANNUAL
SHILLELAGHS BY THE SHORE
SATURDAY, MARCH 1st, 2025 12PM TO 5PM
SUNDAY, MARCH 2nd, 2025 12PM to 5PM
Early Bird Registration: One Day $200 / Both Days $300 open until Oct. 31, 2024
Early Registration: One Day $250 / Both Days $400 open until Feb. 1, 2025
Full Price Registration: One Day $300 / Both Days $500 open until March 1st, 2025
*space is limited we will be taking limited registrations at the door. No refunds after Sept. 1, 2024. You may however sell your spot, just notify Shillelaghs by the Shore know that you've transferred your registration to someone else.
Where: SpringHill Suites Pensacola Beach
24 Via De Luna
Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/pnspb-springhill-suites-pensacola-beach/overview/
Book a room at event discount rate:
Come to the white crystal sands of Pensacola Beach, Florida to train at a two-day intensive seminar in Doyle Irish Stick Fighting! Then stay to enjoy the beach, shopping, or pools.
Pensacola Beach is a vacation destination and has a multitude of attractions, shopping, and food that will satisfy everyone. The hotel hosting the seminar is even within walking distance to an Irish Pub. It doesn’t get much better than that!
This two-day seminar brings together three Doyle Irish Stick Fighting Instructors personally trained by Glen Doyle himself. Tom Moore (your host, personally trained by Glen over a period of ten years), Bernard Leddy (the Chieftain of the system appointed by Glen), and Brian Purdy (the last person to have personally trained with Glen in person).
All will give their unique perspective having trained with Glen at different times. We will go in depth on the proper body mechanics, mindset, and techniques to guide you toward mastery of this world renown style of Irish Stick Fighting. Each instructor will teach blocks of instruction during the seminar.
You will learn techniques such as:
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Stir the Cauldron
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Crash the Gates
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Carry the Coffin
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Put on your Trousers.
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And many more!
This will be a dual-track seminar. It doesn’t matter if you are a raw beginner or a seasoned practitioner, there will be something for everyone.
You don’t want to miss this rare opportunity.
GET REGISTERED
To choose both days or multiple quantities click the drop down menus
GET REGISTERED
To choose both days or multiple quantities click the drop down menus
WHAT IS IRISH STICK FIGHTING?
Irish stick fighting or bataireacht came about from the battlefields of the Irish Faction Fights of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The rural Irish would often engage in combat with rival gangs or factions using various weapons, but most commonly the shillelagh or knobbed walking stick. Bataireacht is the practice of the martial techniques that were used in these contests. As the Irish peasantry were forbidden to own weapons the use of a walking stick as a weapon became common practice.
The Doyle system was handed down through the Paternal Line of the Doyle family. The family, originally from Galway, Ireland, emigrated to Newfoundland, Canada. Glen Doyle learned from his father, Greg Doyle, and after getting reluctant permission from him, began teaching outside the family.
GET REGISTERED
To choose both days or multiple quantities click the drop down menus
MEET YOUR HOST AND ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS
Tom Moore became an instructor of Doyle Family Irish Stick Fighting under Sifu Glen Doyle in 2010. He has a passion for preserving the legacy of this family style.
Tom began his martial arts training in 1988. He has trained in several martial arts systems. His core system is the no-nonsense, street-applicable style of Jun Fan Gung Fu, taught to him by Sifu Eric Winfree.
Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do encourages students to explore other methods of martial arts. In 2008, Tom became a full instructor in Jun Fan / JKD under Sifu Eric. He opened Synergistic Martial Arts in the spring of that year in the basement of a church.
He continued exploring the martial arts, when in 2009, he was thrilled to discover that there was someone still teaching an authentic Irish Martial Art. He contacted Sifu Glen Doyle, one of the last hereditary Irish stick fighters in the world, began training, and was fortunate enough to become an instructor in the system.
Tom began teaching Doyle ISF classes at his school, and in 2016, he began teaching full time in a brand-new facility.
He continued classes until a global pandemic closed his school in 2019. Tom and his wife then decided to follow a long-time dream and split their time between Florida and New York.
Tom has taught several seminars in Doyle Irish Stick Fighting around the U.S. He runs the O’Mordha Faction, and is continuing the legacy by guiding students from beginner to Coach Level in Doyle Family Bataireacht.
MEET YOUR GUEST INSTRUCTORS
The Chieftain Bernard Leddy
Bernard Leddy has been named the "Chieftain" or head on the Doyle system by Glen Doyle and oversees the standards and growth of the system worldwide. He heads the Europe section of the Doyle family style and runs a school in his native Ireland.
Bernard Leddy started his martial training at a young age, at 8, he began training in Shotokan Karate and later Judo, he then left his native Ireland and relocated to England, where he studied Aikido.
He rose to the rank of 3rd Dan, running a successful club in Luton for 10 years. At the age of 28, he became a prison officer where, he learn about human behaviour and gained valuable experience in dealing with people from all walks of life. He spent time as a hostage negotiator and in riot teams, as well as a basic skills tutor and therapy officer. After 20yrs of studying Aikido, he had a terrible accident at work which stopped his training and put him out of action for 2 years.
Two operations later, he returned to martial training, but decided to go in a different direction and began studying under different teachers and systems to find another “path”. Unsatisfied, he then looked at his native Irish culture, where he found the martial art of Bataireacht or Irish Stick Fighting.
He studied under Glen Doyle, one of the last hereditary stick fighters in the world and was fortunate enough to be become an instructor. He is currently the Chieftain and head of the Doyle system worldwide and runs a school in his native Ireland. He promotes Irish Stick Fighting and does teaching and coaching courses worldwide.
Instructor Brian Purdy
Brian Purdy is a highly skilled and experienced teacher of the Doyle Style of Irish stick fighting, also known as Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha. He has studied extensively with the Chieftain of the system Bernard Leddy in Manorhamilton Co. Leitrim Ireland as well as Glen Doyle himself. He has been studying and practicing traditional martial arts such as Kenpo Karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do and Piper Knife Fighting / Tripwire for over 30 years and has trained with some of the top instructors in Ireland, Canada and the United States. He has been a competitive boxer and foil / saber fencer as well.
Brian has a deep knowledge of the history and techniques of Irish stick fighting and his ability to communicate this knowledge to his students in a clear and engaging manner. He is also a strong advocate for the preservation and promotion of this important aspect of Irish culture and heritage.
Brian has trained with Bernie, Glen, and Tom. He is the perfect bridge between the different teaching styles.
As this is the 2nd Annual Shillelaghs by the Shore and will be hosting The Chieftain, space is limited! You must pre-register to make sure we can accommodate you. Registration is on a first come-first served basis. No spots will be held for anyone, so get your registration in quickly!
Below is the tiered pricing with discounts to reward early commitment!
For the first time we will be offering the abiltiy to pay over time with PayLater by PayPal.
Early Bird Registration: One Day $200 / Both Days $300 open until Oct. 31, 2024
Early Registration: One Day $250 / Both Days $400 open until Feb. 1, 2025
Full Price Registration: One Day $300 / Both Days $500 open until March 1st, 2025
*space is limited we will be taking limited registrations at the door.
*Participant is responsible for transportation and/or lodging. No registration refunds will be given after Sept. 1,2024, but you can sell your spot to another person. Just notify Shillelaghs by the Shore that you’ve transferred registration.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
NONE! Tom will provide training sticks and equipment. If you are currently training, you may bring your own stick and/or equipment. Interested in purchasing your own stick? Contact Tom for references to the best Irish stick makers.
Why Irish Stick?
I’ve trained for 35 years and have found the Doyle family style an effective stick art as any I’ve come across (including Filipino, Japanese, etc.). I started training to get closer to my Irish roots, but stayed for the effectiveness and, my favorite part, brutality.
It’s the perfect style for beginners to well-trained martial artists. It helps
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Coordination
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Dexterity
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Self-discipline
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Self-defense
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Confidence
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Introduces you to Irish history and culture
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Plus, makes you feel like a badass!
GET REGISTERED
To choose both days or multiple quantities click the drop down menus
SpringHill Suites Pensacola Beach
24 Via De Luna
Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/pnspb-springhill-suites-pensacola-beach/overview/
Book a room at event discount rate:
Bring your family and make it a vacation! The SpringHill Suites boasts 3 outdoor pools and is steps from Pensacola Beach. With temperatures in the low 80’s, this is the perfect March destination!