Even though you can spell the word Irish Shillelagh, you might not know what it means exactly if you are going to call yourself an authentic celt; it is time you should do some studying. It is basically a club or Irish walking stick crafted from knobby, stout tree branches shaped into a heavy-hitting end with different handle lengths.
For crafting shillelaghs, the craftsmen use oak and blackthorn, especially the root. They hone the wood into an ideal shape and treat it with lard or butter and place it in a chimney for curing. The wood from the root was quite prized as it was used for the knob and was less susceptible to break or crack during usage. Many of them also have added molten lead at the hitting end to increase the club's weight.
Traditionally, the shillelaghs are made of oak, wood(Prunus spinosa) and blackthorn (sloe). However, as there was a scarcity of oak in this Irish country, the term came increasingly to indicate a blackthorn stick. Below are some of the methods that the craftsman performs:
● Method 1: Curing and polishing- Most commonly, the craftsman places the chosen wood up a chimney to cure for a duration of numerous months to years; the accumulation of a layer of soot gives the Shillelagh its typical black shiny appearance
● Method 2- The makers opt for less frequent methods to bury the shank in a dung pile or slaked lime. The stick sometimes requires protection from its dung bath, so the maker wraps it in a well-greased oiled brown paper (steeped in hog's lard or oil).
Both of the previous methods require finishing with oils or sealants, etc. Then, the maker can apply a further coat of special soot finish or rub a mixture of black lead and grease with woollen cloth to a polishing finish. Some of them are just given a coat of black paint.
It is not about the size of Irish Shillelagh; it is all about how a person uses it.
Uses of Irish Shillelagh
Originally, people used Shillelagh as a gentleman's weapon in duels and disagreements. Shillelagh's fighting is exactly like sword fighting; a wielder skillfully parries and disarms their opponent. However, in modern times, people use shillelaghs in modern sparring, where it is divided into short, medium, and lengths. Also, Modern practitioners of bataireacht study the application of the Shillelagh for self-defence and as a martial art tool.
The Shillelagh is one of the most recognizable symbols in Irish heritage, especially in America. Musicians, sports teams, musicians, and even military groups reference the symbol of the Shillelagh also including:
● The US Army National Guard's Fighting 69th regiment officers carry shillelaghs as rank badges in their parades.
● The Boston Celtics' leprechaun mascot leans on a shillelagh.
● The San Diego Padres call late-game rallies' Shillelagh Power'.
● The USC Trojans/Notre Dame Fighting Irish rivalry game winner gets jewelled Shillelagh as a trophy.
● The Shillelagh gained fame as it got mentioned in various well-known Irish folk songs. The ballad "Finnegan's Wake" has coined the term "shillelagh law". Other songs such as "Arthur McBride 'and 'Rocky Road to Dublin 'have also mentioned it.
These are some of the uses of Irish Shillelagh.
Conclusion-
The word Shillelagh comes from the Irish phrase sail éille, which means thonged willow-stick." in English. People usually associate its origin in the village of Shillelagh, County Wicklow, which was once said to be surrounded by vast oak forests. If you want to buy the best ones, look for a reliable vendor.
