Irish Gangs and Stick-Fighting Summary and Reviews

Irish Gangs and Stick-Fighting
by John W. Hurley

Irish Gangs and Stick-Fighting
List Price: $22.99
Category: Book
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Book Summary Information

Author: John W. Hurley
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2002-03-01
ISBN: 1401019811
Number of pages: 316
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Book Reviews of Irish Gangs and Stick-Fighting

Book Review: True stories of shillelagh fighters
Summary: 5 Stars

Before you see Martin Scorcese's film 'Gangs Of New York', read John W. Hurley's book 'Irish Gangs And Stick-Fighting'. Scorcese's film is based on the first half of the book'The Gangs Of New York' which deals exclusively with Irish gangs. And while it's flashy and exotic, there isn't much substance in the original book; it doesn't explain the traditions of the Irish gangs or the famous Irish shillelagh, it simply describes them in a sensational way. I've just read Hurley's book and it remedies this problem, and it does so without being sentimental and without any glorification of violence. It provides first hand accounts of 19th century Irish gangs and fights, written by a 'reformed' Irish stick-fighter (William Carleton), and vividly describes Ireland's fighting culture which was goverened by a code of honour which Hurley rightly calls 'Shillelagh Law'. If you are Irish or have an interest in Irish gangs, Irish boxing, the shillelagh, or Martin Scorcese's upcoming film, you will really enjoy this book - I highly recommend it.

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