The Family Shillelagh

This post was written by Judy Luker Massey, the 3xgreat-granddaughter of John Culbert and Mary Ward.

THE FAMILY SHILLELAGH

by Judy Luker Massey

Judy Luker Massey with the family shillelagh in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.

Our family Shillelagh was passed down to my father, Sam Luker from his mother Gladys Sarah (Hodgins) Luker (1894-1984). We believe it came over to Canada from Ireland with either her mother’s or father’s Hodgins, Crawley, Ward, or Culbert family in the mid 1800’s.

The Shillelagh has always stood in my parents’ bedroom in the corner. I decided that it was about time for me to do some research about Shillelaghs as I knew very little about them.

Shillelagh is spelled in numerous ways such as Shillelah, Shillalah, and Shillaly. Many people pronounce it incorrectly as it should be pronounced “shahall-ay-luh” not “sha-lay-lee.” The cane was originally called an “Irish Bata” or “Fighting Stick.” Bata in Gaelic means fighting stick. Traditionally the Shallelagh was a wooden walking stick, club, or cudgel. It was most likely made of oak and later expanded to be made from holly, ash, or preferably from the stout, knotty wood of a blackthorn tree.

The blackthorn or in Irish the “Draighean” is a small tree or large bush from the British Isles. It tends to stand around 12 feet tall but may grow to approximately 16 feet. It is twisted and thorny with numerous dark coloured branches that are tough, resilient, and resistant to warping. It has a plum-like fruit called “sloe” which can be made into a liquor called “slow gin.” The blackthorn tree also has beautiful white flowers which bloom in the spring. It is considered excellent for firewood as it smokes little, provides good heat, and burns slowly. It is found much less frequently in Ireland today than in the past.

The blackthorn tree has thorns so was often used in Ireland to keep livestock in and unwanted intruders out. It became the preferred wood from which to make a Shillelagh because of its beauty, durability, strength, and solid weight. A knot on the top was valued to make the stick more comfortable to grip when walking and to increase the likelihood that the stick wouldn’t crack when being used.

The wood for a Shillelagh might be cured up a chimney for several months or even years. It should preferably be dried for at least a year. The build-up of soot will over time give the Shillelagh its frequently shiny black appearance. Other methods to cure the wood and prevent the wood from splitting during the drying process were to bury the shank in a manure pile or in slack lime and to smear it with butter. Some references suggest that during a dung bath the shank would be well greased and wrapped with oiled brown paper that was steeped in hog’s lard or oil. Then, another coat of special soot finish or a mixture of black lead paint was added to it. An alternative, although much rarer, was brining where the shank was placed into a basin of salt water to pull the moisture from it to avoid warping.

A number of sources reference Hugh Bronte, Charlotte Bronte’s Uncle. He apparently used a chamois and applied magpie blood to the shank of his Shillelagh to give the stick a darker appearance. Some individuals left the bark on the stick for added toughness. This was not necessary, however, with those made from blackthorn root as they were tough enough already.

Carrying a Shillelagh was seen as a badge of honour for a man. It was considered a rite of passage into manhood when a boy received it. It became popular when Irish and Scottish populations were not allowed to legally carry weapons for self-defence. To use it as a fighting stick, it was held in the middle and snapped out from the wrist. It was not swung. Bata was the weapon of choice for the Irish in the 19th century and earlier and in Gaelic means, “Fighting Stick.” The author, Arthur Conan-Doyle even had his character Sherlock Holmes described as a master of single-stick fighting.

Experienced fighters might use two sticks for fighting called “Troid de Bata” or “Two Stick Fighting.” The second stick was held in the non-dominant hand and used as a shield. The Shillelagh, Bata, or sticks could be short mallets of only 1-2 feet long to poles of 6-9 feet in length. Originally the stick was longer as this allowed the individual to make contact more quickly with his opponent when fighting. Today, the longer length is not necessary as the Shillelagh is rarely used for fighting.

The knobby cudgel was used in the past for aiming at the head. Some of the knobs in the fighting sticks were hollowed out and filled with molten lead which made them more dangerous. They typically weighed around 2 pounds and were called loaded sticks. The loaded sticks needed to have the knob fitted with iron ferrules to maintain its structural integrity. These ferrules could also be fitted into the narrow end of the stick as well.
 

The Shillelagh was once used for settling disputes like in a duel with pistols or swords. Today, slimmer sticks make practical walking sticks. Longer sticks are often called Wattles and shorter ones Kipeens.

The fighting sticks frequently came out in Ireland at fairs, wakes, or all Saints feast days. At this time, various groups such as family clusters, religious factions, or political associations would get together for social gatherings. Some fights might include as many as 100 men and occasionally a few women. The women did not use bata but more likely would weld a stocking filled with stones. After the 1840’s there were many fewer fights. The last recorded fight I could find was at a fair in the village of Cappawhite, County Tipperary in 1887.

Some of the fights were often for fun with challenges given out. This could be done when a man dragged a coat behind him and threw it down. A challenge was then tossed out, “Who’ll tread on the tail of my coat?”
 

There is a wide range of information written about the Shillelagh. Bataireacht studies focus on the use of the Shillelagh for self-defence and as a martial art. Shillelagh Law is often explained as being the accepted rule governing the usage of the weapon.

Irish historian, P. W. Joyce and others have commented that the Shillelagh may have received its name from forest land in the village or barony of Shillelagh, County Wicklow in Ireland. The forest was once famous for its massive oak trees. The majority of the oaks, however, were cut down and exported so that only a few now remain in Ireland. The original oak stick was observed by an English writer who named it the Shillelagh. This then became the name for a walking stick starting in 19th century London when it was more commonly used as a weapon.

I am particularly interested in learning how to determine if a Shillelagh is authentic. Genuine Shillelaghs, I am told, have deep reddish-bark and numerous knots. The spurs on the wood are evenly spaced around the cane. When they are removed small dimples are visible.

It is impossible to know how old our family Shillelagh might be or where geographically it originated. I will always, however, be fascinated with it and speculate on whose hands made it and the journey it has taken in order to finally reside in our home in Canada.

Best wishes to all my Irish cousins,
Judy Luker Massey

“Oh! An Irishman’s heart is as strut as a Shillelagh, it beats with delight to chase sorrow and woe;
When the piper plays up, then it dances gaily, and thumps with a whack to leather a foe.”
- Unknown
 

Questions:

1. Does anyone else in the family have a Shillelagh? If so, what wood is it made from?

2. If you have a Shillelagh, do you know who made it and from where it originated geographically?

Please contact me at this email address…