By Utku Muratoglu

“Martial arts is often seen as an overly aggressive and macho pursuit, yet anybody can do martial arts,” says Thomas Gorman.

Thomas Gorman, a senior member of the Exiles Galway, says the club is trying to re-ignite forgotten martial arts traditions across the UK and Ireland. “We try and reinterpret some of the lost European martial art traditions. We lost a lot of those traditions, most of them are just forgotten.”

The Exiles Galway is a historical European martial arts club based in Salthill, Galway and they train every Wednesday.

Mr Gorman adds that “It is about self-improvement, fitness, and both body and mental health. We run as a social club and [we are] learning a little bit of history along with it.”

The Exiles Galway is also the host of the Morrigan’s Melee 2020.

Morrigan’s Melee 2020 is an event happening in Galway on 7 March that focusses on “celebrating swords-women in Ireland”.

“It’s a way of encouraging women into martial arts because once again it seems like a male dominant pursuit.”

Mr Gorman adds: “Anyone aged 16 or over is welcome to train with us, previous knowledge of martial arts is an advantage but not required.

“An open mind and positive attitude, along with a willingness to work hard- these are required,” he says.