Congratulations to Brendan Noonan who won two gold medals at the recent European Open Stick Fighting championships that were held in NUI Galway last June. Brendan was the winner in the veterans’ heavyweight and super-heavyweight category.
Competitive stick-fighting is the sport version of the ancient Philippine martial art of Escrima. Competitors wear helmets and body armour to prevent injury. Brendan is a member of the Galway Fire Dragon club in Galway, which is one of the few martial arts clubs in Ireland that practises this art.
This was the first time that these international championships were held in Ireland. Competitors from England, France, Germany, Italy and Canada participated.
