These are our blackthorn shillelaghs. Every one is cut in the Midlands of Ireland between November and early February, when the sap is down and the wood is at its hardest. Each stick is made by hand in Ireland by Aidan and his partners, and works just as well as an everyday blackthorn walking stick.
Trusted by the Doyle System of Bataireacht
Our sticks are endorsed by Bernard Leddy, the world-renowned fighter and chief of the Doyle system of bataireacht, Ireland's traditional art of stick fighting. Members of his club come to us regularly for their sticks. A blackthorn shillelagh that's trusted for fighting will see you through a lifetime of walking.
How We Make Them
After cutting, the branches go into our farm shed in the Midlands. At this stage we call them blanks. Aidan stacks them himself and leaves them for one to two years, depending on how thick they are. They're ready when the wood is down to about 12% moisture.
Blackthorn thorns are nasty. A prick from one can easily go septic, so we rub them down on every stick. We leave the knuckles, because that's where the character is. Then each stick gets a coat of boiled linseed oil. It brings up the reddish-purple colour in the bark and stops the wood drying out.
Choosing a Blackthorn Walking Stick
The handle depends on how the bush grew. You'll find three kinds here:
-
Knob handle: the classic shillelagh, with a round head that fits in your palm
-
L handle: cut where a branch meets the stem, good for everyday walking
-
Root ball: a heavy head from the root of the bush, the old-style shillelagh
What you see in the photos is the stick you get. Each one is measured and weighed, and we ship worldwide with duties included.
Blackthorn Shillelagh FAQs
What's the difference between a blackthorn shillelagh and a blackthorn walking stick?
Not much. Shillelagh is the old Irish name for a stout blackthorn stick, usually with a knob head. People carried them for walking and for protection. A blackthorn walking stick tends to be a bit longer and lighter. Most of ours do both jobs.
Who makes your blackthorn shillelaghs?
Aidan and his partners, a small group of Irish makers. Our sticks are endorsed by Bernard Leddy, chief of the Doyle system of bataireacht, and members of his club come to us for their sticks.
Can a blackthorn shillelagh be used as a fighting stick?
Yes. Blackthorn was the traditional wood for Irish stick fighting, known as bataireacht. Members of Bernard Leddy's Doyle bataireacht club regularly train with sticks from us.
Why is blackthorn used for shillelaghs?
It's one of the hardest woods you'll find in an Irish hedge, and once it's seasoned it's very hard to break. There's folklore around it too. Blackthorn is an old fairy tree in Ireland, tied to protection and the winter half of the year, which is when we cut it.
Are blackthorn walking sticks heavy?
Less than you'd think. Most of ours weigh between 270g and 620g, depending on the thickness and the handle. The weight is listed on every product page, so you can pick a light one for walking or a heavier one if you want that traditional shillelagh feel.
How do I look after my blackthorn shillelagh?
Keep it dry and away from radiators. Once or twice a year, rub in a little boiled linseed oil with a soft cloth. That keeps the wood from drying out and brings the colour back up in the bark.
Where can I buy a genuine blackthorn shillelagh?
From us. Every blackthorn shillelagh we sell is cut, seasoned and finished in Ireland by Aidan and his partners, and the stick in the photos is the one we send you. We ship worldwide, and duties are included for the US and Canada.
