Known by many names, including bata in Gaelic – which means, fighting stick – the original cane gets its name from the Shillelagh Forest in County Wicklow. The forest was once famous for its massive stands of fine oaks. Sadly, most of them were cut down and exported and, when you see how few trees remain in Ireland, there’s little comfort in knowing that many famous buildings in Western Europe were built with Irish imported oak.

Folklorist Padraic Colum says the shillelagh should not be considered a symbol of Ireland but a badge of honor for those who carried it. When they were very young, Irish boys were exposed to the traditions of the bata, and when they came of age, to carry a stick was viewed as a passage into manhood.

 

 

Did your Father or Grandfather have a blackthorn walking stick?

It was probably made from Blackthorn bushes found throughout Ireland. Modern agricultural methods are making genuine Blackthorn Irish Walking Sticks even more unique. Blackthorn is renowned for its hardness being one of the tougher woods in the wild. It has been prized for centuries as a material primarily for premium walking sticks.

The original Blackthorn Walking sticks were 1 to 2 foot long shillelaghs.

These sticks are a natural painted black with a rough texture and have a clear coat over the handle that develops a lovely patina over the years. The Irish kept their modified shillelaghs and the world gained a beautiful and functional Irish walking stick known simply as the Irish Blackthorn.

These Walking sticks have a textured black painted finish and a handle at about a 30 degree angle. The handle of these walking sticks are crafted from this authentic blackthorn wood and the shaft of the stick is crafted from hazel for a sturdy walking stick!

Each stick is unique.

About the product

• Blackthorn is a very hard durable wood grown wild along hedgerows in Ireland.
• Sticks are 36-37 inches approximately in length from the base to the tip of the handle.
• Features a rubber ferule on the base to prevent wear.

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