Trailer for raw-fist fighting documentary Knuckle

Meet James Quinn McDonagh and Paddy “The Lurcher” Joyce. Related by blood and separated by a feud that dates back generations. As the heads of rival families, they train to represent their feuding travelling clans, in their long-standing history of violent bare-knuckle boxing.

The documentary Knuckle is a rare chance to step inside one of the world’s most vibrant and elusive communities. Travellers are normally silent about certain parts of their lifestyle. Never before has such a portrayal of their fighting traditions been committed to film. With Knuckle, filmmaker Ian Palmer presents a hard-edged portrait of Irish Traveller male culture and explores the bond of loyalty, the need for revenge, and the pressures to fight for the honor of your family name. Irish Travellers are normally silent about certain parts of their lifestyle and this is a rare chance to step inside one of the world’s most vibrant and elusive communities. Never before has such a portrayal of their fighting traditions been committed to film as Palmer spent years around the clans before they agreed to shoot their secretive world and their way of settling scores: no gloves, no padding, just Knuckle.

Shot in an observational style, Knuckle presents a hard edged portrait of Traveller male culture and explores the bond of loyalty, the need for revenge and the pressures to fight for the honour of your family name. Prepare to witness the secretive world of travellers and their way of settling scores. No gloves, no padding, just Knuckle.

Check out the trailer for Knuckle below.