The left arm could be used for blocking strikes, throwing a punch or, once in close quarters, grabbing an opponent’s stick to attempt a disarm. It would start with both fighters using sticks, the shillelagh or a cudgel, the stick was held typically in the right hand, with 6 inches or so extending past the base of the hand, with the rest of the stick extending upright. (Please see the sources below for the full version of the use and origins of the shillelagh)Ī faction fight typically broke down into 3 parts, stick fighting, wrestling & stomping. The origins of the use of the stick is hard to determine as they weren’t properly recorded until the 17th & 18th centuries, though it is thought to be much older, there is strong evidence that the shillelagh was a weapon from an ancient form of Irish martial art, stick fighting, which over the past few years has seen a revival after becoming an almost extinct practice. Traditionally, the shillelagh or blackthorn sticks with thorns left on the stick were smeared with whiskey butter and smoked over fire (in the fireplace) – thus giving them their dark, hard, glossy surface. It was made by taking either the branch of a tree or an entire juvenile tree including the root knob and cutting it up to approximately three foot in length with the root left in a ball on top, some fighters would carve an opening in it and fill it with molten lead to give it a bit more weight. The Shillelagh was traditionally made from blackthorn wood which was available easily and in large quantities, it was a tree species of high hardness and stiffness – it grew on the side of the road. So having a walking stick that doubled as a weapon was a clever way around such laws. The Shillelagh was used as a walking stick and or a weapon, in the 1600’s the Penal Laws set by the British Government outlawed Irish people from owning weapons, among a host of other laws. However, it is never the best tool for these things nowadays, and using it as such risks breaking or damaging the shillelagh.Ĭarrying one around is best used as holding a piece of history and culture in your hands.The Shillelagh (pronounced shi – lay – la) is the name for a traditional Irish stick or stick of blackthorn wood, its usually sold to tourists and is a symbol of Irishness, it is on the logo of sports clubs, political office and other places around the world however, it has a long and somewhat sinister past. The weight and large handle make it good for hitting things like a hammer or moving things outside of your reach. The shillelagh has some use as a tool outside of being used as a fighting stick, though not a proper one. The shillelagh known as the old stick-fighting sport once served as a great defensive tool, useful for beating off any potential attackers and protecting yourself from wild animals. The Blackthorn Walking Stick is the authentic Irish blackthorn walking stick that does it all. The Blackthorn Walking Stick stands tall enough to help support you as you walk, making it a great tool for many people. The blackthorn bush is known for its thorny branches which make an unique walking stick. The handle is the root base which grows as a root ball that forms a unique beautiful and natural handle. Most will have a strap to hang when not in use or wrap around the hand to prevent it from dropping.Īuthentic Blackthorn Walking Stick come straight Ireland. The top of the shillelagh is a large bulb of wood and striking surface of the shillelagh. The shaft of the walking stick is mostly smooth, but they often keep a few knots in it to give it a different form. The shillelagh fighting stick is usually 18" -22". Blackthorn wood typically makes the shillelagh. What’s a Shillelagh?Ī shillelagh is a type of stick that is usually shorter an not intended for walking, useful for both walking and defending oneself. This is an older example of what an Irish shillelagh is used for, but there are others. Eventually, this became so popular that fathers would teach their children how to fight with shillelaghs as a rite of passage. The most popular use of shillelagh comes from the 1800s, where teams came together to fight each other in stick fights as a sport. The shillelagh has a deep history rooted in sports, and parents even gave it to children as a sign of adulthood.
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