Mercy
The sixth in a series of short stories about The Archery Guild and its members, set in a fantasy world, known as Anordaithe.
Here you are finally introduced to a mythical figure only spoken about thus far in the pages of The Phoenix Archer.
Tag archery
Robin Hood Shoot
There isn’t much evidence to support the existence of Robin Hood. Which is sad really. The Americans can claim Fred Bear and Howard Hill, of course. But it is unlikely the gallantry and romance of undermining a greedy and corrupt…...
a whisper in the dark
You think you understand violence. You think you’ve seen it, measured it, weighed it in your hands like something you could master, something that bends to the will of the wielder. You think a weapon is just a tool. But…
An archer’s spindle of literature Column
I first stumbled upon Irish Celtic mythology when I was a lad of fourteen, a scrawny thing with a wild imagination and a stubborn curiosity for the unknown. It was my older sister who planted the seed, gifting me a…...
Autism in Archery – Jessica Burcow
Welcome to a new series where I interview autistic archers about our experiences within archery. The goal here is to better inform people of our condition and needs within the sport. Furthermore, there will find plenty for those of us…
Thorgal – precision, restraint and choice.
The trade was small, insignificant in the grand scheme of things. A childhood barter, some scrap of possession given away for something else, though the details are long since swallowed by the tides of memory. I don’t remember what I…
“Field Ready” outdoor Column
The wind shifted. That peculiar scent of damp earth, wood smoke, and the first stirrings of green rising from winter’s quiet breath. The hedgerows outside my window whispered of coming rain, the kind that soaks slow and steady, not in…...
Andrew’s 20 questions – #26 michael hambly
Now this month we feature an absolute gentleman,… such a kind, thoughtful, considerate and lovely guy all round. he is one of the stalwarts of the great mayo archery club and always has a word of welcome and a smile…...
Smack my controversy Column
James Byrne column
On weather phenomena and archery
As I start to write this article it is 1am on Jan 24th 2025 as the much anticipated and dreaded storm Eowyn is raging outside and I am wondering how bad it will be over the next 10 hours .…...
Draw, Aim, Endure
IFAF Indoor National championship 2025 Saturday morning, and the gods had decided to be kind. No rain, no howling winds, just an uncharacteristically mild February air settling over Waterford like a held breath. Eight degrees Celsius, but let’s leave Anders…
Archers Talkin’ Archery – Michael White
More quick interviews with archers here in the north and elsewhere. Archers Talkin' Archery is back!
Archers Talkin’ Archery – Renee McDowell
More quick interviews with archers here in the north and elsewhere. Archers Talkin' Archery is back!
American Bowyers
A bow is born long before the first curl of wood makes its way to the ground before the rasp makes the first bite into the grain or the sinew begins to hum against the frame that is slowly taking shape.…
Tracing the Path: Indigenous Odyssey
“The bow whispers to the archer: trust the wind, trust the arrow, trust yourself.” There’s a certain quiet to the past, a hush that lingers in old things—tools, stories, hands that remember what the world once was. Some things don’t…
Primeval and Forsaken
A film review of frontier brutality, archery, and the quiet horror of survival. There’s something primal about the way American Primeval treats archery—something that strips it of romance, of the quiet elegance we might have once attributed to it in…
The Bownan’s Banter Column
Aiming for Connection Archery isn’t just a sport or a skill—it’s an invitation to step into a world that challenges and rewards in equal measure. It prompts precision, patience, and self-awareness, and it always gives something more in return. Whether you…
Archers Talkin’ Archery – Mike Leckey
More quick interviews with archers here in the north and elsewhere. Archers Talkin' Archery is back!
The Bowman’s Banter Column
My first bow was a Diana longbow made by a Polish company called Lukbis. It was a wonder that felt as light as air, built to simplicity and beauty, and at a draw weight of 38lb, felt in your hand more like a toy than a weapon. Not only was this bow my first foray into archery; it was the foundation of my bow-wielding journey, one that taught me a great deal about form, technique, and the kind of unfathomable, silent connection that exists between archer and arrow.
Like so many newbies, I started shooting wooden arrows with plastic nocks, a sensible combination ideal for mastering the fundamentals. However, as my interest grew, I began seeking alternatives, motivated by a commitment to embrace the old-school craftsmanship of the sport.