#county wicklow

Irish blackthorn shillelaghs. The term shillelagh (thonged stick) has a very murky past. It’s not known exactly when people began calling walking sticks and cudgels shillelaghs. Originally, shillelaghs were made from oak, with the forest of Shillelagh in county Wicklow being the largest supplier of wood. After rampant deforestation in Ireland, walking sticks and cudgels found themselves being made from other materials, primarily hawthorne, hazel, and blackthorn. Shillelaghs were used not only as walking aids, but also to settle disputes between individuals and factions. Faction fighting was rampant in the late 18th century and early 19th century, but became almost nonexistent when the Famine set in. Sticks used for the purpose of fighting or simply known as “bata”. Today, almost all genuine shillelaghs are made from blackthorn. Some are called loaded sticks on account of them having molten lead poured into a hollowed out area of the knob in order to increase the striking power.