5e non-asian monk options: Isle of Dawn (Dunadale) Baitaireacht Fighter
by Marc SaindonA bit of a rehash on some thoughts I had about the Monk Class (and its RC Mystic equivalent) being confined to asian cultures and mastering an energy (Ki) that also is only manipulated in asian cultures. Previously I thought of a greek version, the Athlete, which has an olympian tradition and calls Ki "Pneuma" instead.
For an irish version suitable for Dunadale, the problem as that while Ireland had a rich monastic tradition, these aren't the right sorts of monks. So instead one could go to the peasantry - who probably couldn't afford metal weapons and armors like the Celtic warriors of legend - and make use of the Bataireacht (stick fighting) traditions to build a martial arts. They craft blackthorn shillelagh from the wood of sacred groves, rumored to be close to faerie rings. They master secret techniques. While not every person in Dunadale that picks up a piece of wood is going to turn into a Monk (most will remain Commoners or pick up the Fighter class). Dojos become "Factions" (or "Gangs"). Ki is a bit tricky, as I don't want to tie it to celtic faerie energy tales (that's more for the Bard and his spontaneous magic through song and art), but the word "Enech" (roughly translated to "Worth" or "Honor") -- fighting a lot AND surviving grants xp, which gives levels, which allows one to channel more Enech. so naturally, they get into a lot of fights, and Factions mostly work on a village level before everything fractures (pun intended).
Mechanics-wise, Way of the Drunken Master can be copied a bit for level development, especially if you're with the trope of the pub rowdy. But Way of Mercy could be re-worked as a group of nuns with wooden rulers. And other Traditions could be made "Druid-adjacent", meaning that just because your character is from Dunadale and more spiritually-inclined he might not want necessarily to pick up the Druid class: a Way of the Long Death monk could feel inspired by the Morrigan, seeking to emulated rather than worship, and could form a trio with two other like-minded people.
Bataireach fighting on wiki: Bataireacht
(art from: https://www.fightingartshealthlab.com/bataireacht-the-lost-art-of-irish-stick-fighting/)