You can find us:
@ St Conleth's College Gym, Clyde Road, Dublin 4 D04 FT98
on Wednesdays
from
18.45 - 22.00 (throughout the fencing year)
David Couper is a three-weapon Maitre d'Armes.
He has been fencing since he was at school where he was taught by Prof. John Fethers, the then Scottish National Coach. He continued fencing at St Andrew's University, where he gained a fencing Blue.
Maître Couper completed a 'stage' at the Institut National du Sport in Paris (now INSEP) and started teaching fencing over forty years ago under the plastron of Prof. PJ Duffy ADFD, AAI, AAF.
In 1991 he became a Level 5 Maître d'Armes in all three weapons and is a member of the Irish Academy of Arms of which he is currently President.
David is a member of the International Academy of Arms, the umbrella body for Academies worldwide.
He is also a member of the US Fencing Coaches Association.
David has been an Inner Game coach since 1982. He has also coached the Inner Game of Tennis at the Fitwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin and has coached the Inner Game of Business at major Irish companies.
Grant Couper is a Prévôt de Fleuret and Prévôt d'Épée. He started fencing in his post-graduate year at Trinity College and competed on the university team. He previously dedicated himself to Kenpo Karate, kick-boxing and all-in grappling.
Grant is a member of the Irish Academy of Arms of which he is currently Secretary. He is also a member of the International Academy of Arms.
He demonstrates his enthusiasm for coaching in Salle Dublin and communicates his pleasure and enjoyment of both foil and épée to everyone he coaches, specialising in a single tempo meta for épée.
Stephen Concannon is a Prévôt de Sabre. He discovered fencing later than most, joining the UCD Fencing Club in his first year at UCD in 2004. While he spent his first few years competing across all 3 weapons, he eventually specialised in sabre.
Stephen went on to win many competitions on the Irish circuit and was on many occasions the Irish Open and Irish National Sabre Champion. He also represented the Irish Men's Sabre team for over a decade, competing in 11 consecutive 5 Nations tournaments from 2007 to 2019 and across continents on the FIE circuit, including competing at the European and Olympic Qualifiers in 2015-16.
Stephen is a member of the Irish Academy of Arms and is a member of the International Academy of Arms.
Stephen's primary aim as a coach is to share his passion for sabre and its adrenaline inducing speed with everyone from beginners to elite athletes in order to grow the number of sabreurs across the country.
He brings his multi-layered experience allied to a contagious sense of fun to sabre coaching in Salle Dublin.
In 2013, he successfully completed the British Disabled Fencing Association's Coaches Course and is the only qualified wheelchair fencing coach in Ireland.
In 2014, David successfully completed the F.I.E Diploma for Maître d’Armes en Sabre in Budapest.
He has also completed the 2019 ZFW International Coaching Course with Ziemek Wojciechowski.
David was Maître Assistant at Salle d'Armes Duffy, Sandymount where he specialised in Épée master classes and, for many years, was Master at Arms to the University of Dublin, Trinity College. He is currently Fencing Master to St Conleth's College.
He was the founding Vice President of the Modern Pentathlon Association of Ireland and was the original MPAI fencing coach.
Fionbarr Farrell, OLY, is a three weapon Master Emeritus at Salle Dublin. He also was a student of Prof. Duffy and has had an illustrious career in RTE and an enviable record of achievement in fencing.
Between 1965 and 1978, he fenced for Ireland at the World Championships and in 1968 represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in Mexico City. He reigned as National Foil Champion in 1992/3.
Maître Farrell has a strong interest in stage fencing and fencing choreography and has been a judge at the International Stage Fencing Championships.
Fionbarr is the only Irish Fencing Coach Tutor accredited by Coaching Ireland.
in 1991 he became a Level 5 Maître d'Armes in all three weapons and is former Treasurer of the Irish Academy of Arms. He has been Vice President of the International Academy of Arms.
Fionbarr was fencing master to Salle d'Armes Duffy, Sandymount in 1999, St. Killian's German School, Wesley College, St Conleth's College and Belvedere College.
For many years, he was Master at Arms to the University of Dublin, Trinity College.