Shillelagh
Literally: strap willow
Also known as: shillelah, shillalah, shillaly
An Irish walking stick and cudgel of blackthorn or oak with a large root knob, hardened in a chimney, the weapon of Irish duels and the stick fight bataireacht.
Quick Facts
IrelandAbout the weapon
The shillelagh is an Irish walking stick and also a cudgel, usually made from a stout, knotty blackthorn with a large knob at the end; traditionally it is made of blackthorn or oak. The name derives from the Irish sail éille: sail means willow or club, éille is the genitive of iall, a strap. According to another explanation, it comes from the town or barony of Shillelagh in County Wicklow, from where the wood was taken. For the knob, wood from the root was prized because it cracked less. The stick was hardened in a chimney for months or years, and a layer of soot gave it its typical black sheen; less often it was buried in manure or slaked lime, and rarely soaked in salt water. The striking end was sometimes hollowed out and filled with molten lead so it would weigh more than the usual two pounds. The usual length is about 0.91 m; longer pieces run 1.2 to 1.5 m. In Ireland, stick duels followed their own rules, as elsewhere with swords or pistols. Irish stick fighting is called bataireacht; the stick is held a third of its length from the end, and the lower part protects the elbow. In the 18th century, stick fighting became linked with gangs called factions, whose mass brawls broke out at fairs, weddings, and funerals; in the 19th century the Caravat and Shanavest factions were the main rivals. In popular culture, especially Irish-American, it became a stereotypical symbol of Irishness. In 2022, the BBC wrote about the revival of bataireacht.