![]() ![]() One isolated case of this brining method being used, by Charlotte Brontë's uncle named Hugh, has been documented. The saltwater, being a hypertonic solution, would pull moisture from the shank with little warping. Rarer still was brining, where the shank was placed into a basin of saltwater. Some examples may just be given a coat of black paint. A further coat of special soot finish may be applied, or a mixture of black lead and grease rubbed on with woolen cloth to a polishing finish. īoth of the previous methods would be finished with oils or sealants, etc. The stick may require protection from its dung bath by being wrapped in well-greased oiled brown paper (steeped in hog's lard or oil). The less frequent methods were to bury the shank in a dung pile, or in slaked lime. Most commonly, the chosen wood would be placed up a chimney to cure for a duration of several months to several years the accumulated layer of soot gave the shillelagh its typical black shiny appearance. ![]() IRISH STICK SHILLELAGH CRACKWood from the root was prized since this would be used for the knob, and was less prone to crack or break during use. With the scarcity of oak in Ireland the term came increasingly to denote a blackthorn stick, and indeed blackthorn stick is sometimes glossed as equivalent to shillelagh. Shillelaghs are traditionally made from blackthorn (sloe) wood ( Prunus spinosa) or oak. The geographic name Shillelagh derives from Síol Éalaigh, or "Descendants of Éalach" in English. Īs an alternate etymology, Anna Maria Hall and Patrick Weston Joyce have written that the name may have derived from the wood being sourced from forest land in the village or barony of Shillelagh, County Wicklow. ![]() Jean McClelland writes about antiques for The Herald-Dispatch.The name shillelagh is the Hiberno-English corruption of the Irish (Gaelic) form sail éille, where sail means "willow" or "cudgel" and éille is genitive for iall meaning "thong", "strap", "leash", and "string", among others. Headaches from overindulgence are much more preferable to those that result from a wallop of a Shillelagh. Today, as you look down at that green beer be glad that the Irish tradition of engaging your buddies in a contest with a Shillelagh is no longer the fashionable way of celebrating. This ornate special featured Irish cane can be sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars however most Shillelaghs are sold for less than $100.00. The more unusual the cane the more collectible and valuable it becomes. Today’s collectors look for special features in old canes such as hidden swords, camouflaged whiskey flasks or unusual materials forming the head of the cane. Early on this cudgel was whittled leaving the knobs and thorns in place so as to make it a better weapon when giving their adversary a good wallop. Interestingly it was an English writer who first dubbed the bata a Shillelagh due the origin of the wood. The Irish fighting stick came by the name of Shillelagh due to the fine woods most favored in the making of the cudgel that were found in Ireland’s Shillelagh Forest. As time moved on, the fights took on a sportsman type venue at many ale intensive celebrations. From the 17th thru the 19th Century, those fights were most prevalent between political groups called ‘factions’. There were even trainers or fencing masters called “Maighistir Prionnsa” to help them perfect their bata skills. IRISH STICK SHILLELAGH HOW TOAs a rite of passage young Irishmen learned how to protect themselves in a fight. ![]()
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