Measuring from the ground up, should be elbow high. These heavier versions are known as preloaded or loaded sticks, respectively.Īnd lastly, the length of your stick should fit your height. If made with heavy Blackthorn, there is no need to add weight. Some will hollow out the hitting end and fill it with heavy molten metal. When the stick finishes curing in the smoke, it is buried in dung to keep it moist and prevent cracking. Then the stick is placed up a chimney or over a fire to be cured, like a piece of meat.
According to Irish Central, a thick knobby stick with the bark intact is slathered in whiskey butter. I was surprised by all that goes into making an authentic Shillelagh. The Irish fighting stick has a leather wrist strap.
In essence, a Shillelagh is a thick, knotty walking stick or cane made from Blackthorn or oak. The Shillelagh is said to come from the village of Shillelagh in County Wicklow, which was abundant with oak trees. So how do you pronounce Shillelagh? It rhymes with ukulele and consists of three syllables: shill-lay-lee. They complete your traditional styles of Gaelic wear with your clothes and accessories from The Celtic Croft. Shillelaghs are a popular gift store item in Ireland. In Irish, it translates to “descendants of Éalach,” and the Gaelic know a shillelagh as a bata or fighting stick. Shillelagh comes from the words sail éille, translated into English means thonged willow-stick. What in the world is a Shillelagh? It’s an Irish fighting stick. I’ll refrain from telling my off-colored joke about what’s under a kilt and a Shillelagh.