![]() ![]() Sometimes, the knob on the end was hollowed out and filled with molten lead this was known as a "loaded stick." However, in sticks made of blackthorn, the knob was actually the root and it would not have been necessary to "load" it because it could pack a significant whack! Eventually, it became synonymous for any Irish walking stick. In his wonderful book on Irish folklore, Padraic Colum quotes John Banim in this description of a mansion from his novel The Croppy: "solidly wainscoted with Shillelagh oak against which (as is said of the woodwork of Westminster Hall, also reputed Irish) the venomous spider of England durst not affix his web."Ĭuriously, it was from the pen of an English writer who, on seeing an oak cane and knowing where it came from, coined the term Shillelagh. Sadly, most of them were cut down and exported and, when you see how few trees remain in Ireland, there's little comfort in knowing that many famous buildings in Western Europe were built with Irish imported oak. The forest was once famous for its massive stands of fine oaks. Known by many names, including bata in Gaelic - which means, fighting stick - the original cane gets its name from the Shillelagh Forest in County Wicklow. ![]() Their weapon of choice would have been a cane made from oak, blackthorn, ash or holly. ![]() ![]() Very handy to have - but not something the Irish would have used at that time, or earlier. What I have mistakenly called a shillelagh all these years was once a very popular weapon in 19th-century London. In his very informative book, Things Irish, Anthony Bluett writes that according to a leading folklore authority, the short, stubby blackthorn cudgel sold to tourists as the "ancient Irish shillelagh" has no tradition in Ireland at all. "People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors." Sign up for updates on Live Seminars and Classes as well.Site Index | Kids | Kitchen | Shopping | Poetry | Weddings | Travel | Basic Irish | Quotes | Books | Music | Movies | Trivia | Blessings | Jokes | Links | Get ready to start your journey towards 1st Degree Black Belt in Combat Shillelagh Stick Fighting and beyond with our Black Belt Bundle Package! Be sure to explore the online shop and take advantage of all our Distance Learning Program options. Join Students From Around the World on the Path to Black Belt. There are multiple levels of material and certification all the way from Green Belt, Brown Belt, Black Belt up to and including Assistant Instructor, Certified Instructor and Master Levels. Not found anywhere else, you get access to an incredibly rich amount of learning material provided both online in a Distance Learning Model as well as face to face in hands-on seminars and events. You can train from anywhere in the world, and at your own pace! Most importantly, it is the First System of it’s kind for learning the Modern Day Defensive Aspects of the Shillelagh! Whether you want to delve deep into the Shillelagh as an entire weapons system all on it’s own, or you want to add to your existing studies to round out your skills, then THIS is the system for you. The Combat Shillelagh Stick Fighting System is a robust Blended Learning (or Hybrid Learning) model that has proven to be a very efficient & effective way to learn. We have created a deep, comprehensive curriculum to apply Modern Day Combative concepts to the ancient Shillelagh. ![]()
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