The blackthorn walking stick also referred to as a Shillelagh or a “bata” in Irish simply meaning stick is an identifiably Irish symbol. The blackthorn stick pops up occasionally in different Irish folktales such as “The Blood Drawing Ghost” aka “Mary Culhane and the Dead Man” as being a prized possession. However, besides being a walking stick it was also used for self-defense and to settle quarrels or disputes.
The construction of the blackthorn stick is still rather a mystery to me as finding information on that seems to be difficult to find or its guarded by those you manufacture them. From what I’ve found the blackthorn stick’s wood comes from a thorny shrub identified as Prunus spinosa which is a large shrub or small tree about 16 feet or five meters tall with blackish bark that produces sloe berries that takes about five to ten years to mature to a state where its ready to cut for walking sticks. One of the reasons these walking sticks are more valuable or harder to find however is due to the time that it can take to make. Unlike hazel for example which can take about 18 months to cure the wood, blackthorn can take years ideally around three of four years due to the extremely dense nature of the wood and depending on where you read it seems that traditionally the walking stick pieces were lathered in butter or lard before being stuffed up a chimney to cure to prevent cracking.
As I had mentioned before the sticks were also used for self-defense and for settling disputes. I am part of a group called The Phoenix Society of Historical Swordsmanship and do practice some forms of cane fighting or stick fighting. However, the Irish have a system that is vastly different from the English or the French whose systems are similar to how one would use a saber. The Irish use a system called Bataireacht which is very unique in technique and very effective. The shaft is grabbed about a third to halfway from the bottom so that the portion below the hand protect the forearm and can be used as a shield and the strikes are done in a quick snapping motion. Due to the connection to the martial systems I study I always love when they pop up in different tales from Ireland, because I know exactly what they look like and how they would be carried or used and it fills my head with scores of images.
Not all Shillelagh are made of blackthorn as hazel and oak are common, but the dense, tough wood of the blackthorn make the most sought after shillelagh that can be made. Being recognized as a being a wholly Irish stick by many today, it is still sought after by walking stick enthusiasts and has carved itself into history. Knowing how much history and culture a simple item like a walking stick can have just by mentioning the wood it is made out of makes one wonder what other overlooked items in stories may hold and the importance they may have.
The image at the top of the post can be found here.
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