  
- About our Sticks
- Irish Blackthorn
- Irish Hazel
- American Blackthorn
- Selecting Stick Size and Style
- Sticks, Cudgel, Shillelagh
- Medicinal Qualities and Other Uses
- Stick Badge Fitting Instructions
- Folklore
- Droghedy's March
- Links
About our Sticks: Blackthorn and Hazel Walking Sticks handcrafted in Ireland will have the Irish Flag alongside. Each stick is photographed, named, and numbered --the stick you purchase is the one you will receive.
 Our hardwood walking sticks are strong; even the most slender of sticks are strong and hard-wearing. Perfect for leisure and health walking, hiking, collecting, or as a decorative piece.
 Irish Blackthorn: Pug Ugly Walking Sticks are handcrafted in Ireland using traditional methods. These time-honored, one-piece Blackthorn Shillelaghs are selected and cut from dense thickets sourced from the forests of Ireland.
The root handle is hand-carved and varnished, the vicious thorns on the shank are trimmed and rounded off. The shank is covered in a protective coating of black enamel, the end is tipped with a copper ferrule. These are not fancy canes, they tend to be a little crooked and knobbly; that is what gives each their distinctive character. No two are alike, each interesting and unique, designed by nature herself.
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Blackthorn: Prunus spinosa, is a relative of cherries and plums. Sloe, the blue-black fruits are edible, but bitter until after the first frost. The Rosaceae (rose) family. The name for the blackthorn in Ogham, a language used by the Druids, is straif, the origin of the word "strife" and is about Conflict.
 Known as a winter shrub/small tree, Blackthorn reaches an ultimate height of 13ft (4m) tall. Hedge height is 3-10ft (0.9-3m). It is mainly used as hedging and grows to produce dense impenetrable thickets. The mass of snow white flowers blossom March through April, before the the oval leaves appear, followed by purple sloes in autumn.
With sharp thorns it provides cover for birds and small mammals. It attracts numerous insects in early spring and is the food plant of no fewer than 200 species of moths.
The thorny black branches are very sturdy and have been used over the centuries for teeth of hay-rakes, marquetry, and walking sticks.
The favorite Shillelagh or walking stick material today is blackthorn, that sacred Celtic wood. It is referred to as a "plum" wood, as it bears tiny flowers and is related to the plum-giving family. The vicious thorns, according to experts, must be smoothed completely down in an ordinary cane but this is not the case with shillelaghs. A nice "knobbly bit" is left where each thorn is severed from the cane.
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Irish Hazel: Natural smooth finish, sturdy but extremely light-weight. Round "root knob" handles copper tipped.
 "Hazel rarely grows tall enough to be considered a tree, rather it forms into dense scrub in limestone areas such as the Burren, Co. Clare. Hazel has been a valuable resource to human kind since prehistoric times.
The young bark has a characteristic mottled appearance and the leaves are large and soft to touch. Nuts ripen in October and are favoured by Squirrels, Jays, Pheasants and Wood Pigeons.
Hazel wood was used to ward off evil, in water divining, and nuts were carried for good luck. They are also associated in Celtic myth with wisdom. There are also many stories that tell of Hazel wands able to bring about shapeshifting and tranformation.
There are also many folk customs associated with Hazel. Small twigs could protect from lightening or shipwreck at sea. In Wales, Hazel wands worn in a hat would bring you your hearts desire. Irish cattle were singed with Hazel rods as they were driven through the fires of Bealtaine."
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 American Blackthorn: by D.W.Harris These handsome and strong walking sticks were selected for their individual qualities and character from a secluded, and once long forgotten grove in the American Southeast. Planted from seedings from Ireland in the early part of the last century the Blackthorn and other species have remained untouched for decades. Each stick, environmentally harvested, is cured and hand crafted by D.W. Harris in the ancient ways passed down through generations.
 The blackening of noted sticks is done by a primeval process of applying dye made from soot of burning trimmings of Blackthorn. The only modern process is that of a protective clear urethane applied over the shaft and knob.
The ancient method of using hemp and resin to fashion a knob is used. Hemp fibers are wound into the desired shape and then the windings are soaked in a special resin and let cure for 6 months to a year. The upper end of the shaft is left exposed, sanded smooth to form the top of the knob; comfortable in the hand and as hard as or harder than natural wood knob.
There’s a good bit of mystery and ancient folk lore relating to every element of the Blackthorn tree; strength of wood for shillelaghs or cudgels; fruit and flowers for medicinal purposes; a tea from dried leaves; ink or dye from the bark, and the vicious thorns used for defense and protection. Much is made of ancient potions for ailments as well as certain metaphysical involvements, but for this exchange we’ll deal with the more tangible areas of Blackthorn; principally the planting, harvest, and crafting of the walking stick.
I first came to know of Blackthorn and it’s usage from my Great Grandfather; there were little areas he sat the plants from Ireland about his farm and I remember some had gained a height about that of a tall man; I remember them to have been little patches in those days. A fairly recent business trip leads me to the place where he once lived; relying on visual landmarks recalled after nearly 50 years I come upon the hidden field. The once little patches of Blackthorn have grown into virtual groves.
 It’s prickly work harvesting Blackthorn, most people are sensitive to the long sharp thorn tips, especially in summer; when they leave a painful sort of spider bite. In order to retrieve the prized ‘root knob’ so often associated with the storied Blackthorn stick, the root must be hacked from the earth, thereby, in most cases, killing the bush. As often happens (Murphy’s Law) a magnificent root knob is rarely attached to an equally magnificent shaft, leaving the crafter to come to a decision. Fortunately, there’s always an ancient remedy for every circumstance, and I rely on an archaic method known as Hemp and Resin.
It permits the reclaiming of the bush for years to come while matching an exceptional handle with a handsome shaft. After selecting the desired staff, the crafter winds the precise shape with hemp fibers and then let them soak in a resin concoction (a guarded family recipe) and leaving that to cure while hung upside-down for 6 months to a year. Hard as nails the knobs are then and can be sanded smooth or rather left with the windings intact.
The groves are producing three variations of bark: smooth grey; rough charcoal; and the classic maroon/brown/copper. The rough charcoal plants have patches of lichen moss for protection; I seldom search out the charcoal ones, although they are very rustic once the moss is removed with thorns that are plentiful, though not as regular in position. Hawthorn, people say, is a Blackthorn counterfeit; there is no Hawthorn in the groves.
Blackthorn in its pure form has a very smooth bark between thorn bases and very waxy to look at. Some finished sticks that are clear coated, almost appear like candy, with its deep
redish, maroon or deep rootbeer coloration. There is a coastal Blackthorn that has a grayish tint and hard, like smooth gray concrete in texture and very old looking.
Great Grandfather successfully crossed the Blackthorn with a little tree called a Fire Bush which brings about a straighter staff that is incredibly strong for its diameter. Pure Fire Bush is very beautiful, though its cruel thorns are much sharper than Blackie. A person casually versed in naked un-worked Blackthorn can tell the difference by the bark texture, but mostly its waxy olive green to pale gray color. Granddad told me the old-timers called it Firebush because fire was the only thing that could destroy it; but who knows?
If I harvest a shaft, and it is not in any way waxy in texture, anywhere, it may get a coat of black soot on it after curing. The black color is a soot dye from burnt Blackthorn, the old way. The only modern process is a thin protective coating of polyurethane. The bark is never sanded, if it is only 7/8 diameter or so, and it looks like it is 100 years old. So be it.
Premium Blackthorn is not always stiff; it can be somewhat flexible in a narrower shaft; it looks like the shaft while growing did not know what direction to go off center and zigzagged leaving flat spots near thorn bases that make that place actually oval in cross section This would be considered a prize stick; my personal favorite is mostly just over a half inch and it is superior premium due to its zigzag neared to the small end.
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Stick Size: Standing in a comfortable, relaxed position have someone measure the distance between the crease in your wrist, where you would wear a watch, to the floor. A slight bend in the elbow is good.
35 - 37 inches seem to be the average size for Blackthorn sticks. Most people find it to be a comfortable length.
A few people have told us they've cut an inch or so off the bottom to bring their stick down to a more suitable size: The copper or rubber ferrule may be salvaged to use again if removed carefully. If the ferrule is damaged or no longer fits after alterations, a replacement rubber tip can be found here Walking Stick Accessories .
 3/4" Diameter: Although strong; walking sticks of this slender design are not intended to support any significant weight, although it would be fine just to aid balance; not too cumbersome for leisure walking, its just the thing to fend off the odd stray dog or goose. Light in weight and strong for its size it is usable or can be added to any collection.
7/8" Diameter: A walking stick of this medium or about standard size is a strong and properly useful stick for walking and hiking. Lightweight and sturdy.
1" Plus Diameter: A walking stick an inch or more is perfect for storming the castle; may be a bit bulky for leisure walks or hiking; it is often thought of as a cane, although we can not recommend it for orthopedic use. Stick fighters prefer a stick of this thickness.
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Where did the name Shillelagh originate?
The Irish shillelagh "sail-éílle"- pronounced "shahll-AY-luh" and commonly pronounced as "shuh-LAY-LEE" means "walking stick" or "cane" in Gaelic.
"A picturesque village, set among the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, Shillelagh was a reknowned centre for oak production and supplied the timber for many famous buildings and the British navy. Quiet and unspoilt, the village now hosts an annual oak festival each June Bank holiday weekend. It is held to celebrate the huge oak forests that once dominated the surrounding area, which also gives its name to the world-famous Shillelagh stick."
...Russ and Bridget Haggerty
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What is it about Blackthorn?
"They asked me in my capacity as an anthropologist why people seem to become so attached to blackthorn: "What is it about blackthorn?"― to which I respond, it's the venerated cultural tradition. We become attached to materials the way we do to people. The ancient Celts, whose descendants more than hold their own today, revered the blackthorn almost as much as the oak. And with its unsurpassable wood qualities, vicious thorns and huge root-knob, blackthorn is hard to beat.
But there is another answer: Tradition. A bit of the old country. I know people hereabouts who have venerable shillelagh collections, all handed down as heirlooms. At the end of the day, at least for me, sail-éílle is synonymous with Tradition. It is not about fighting or nationalism it is about home and hearth. An old-fashioned Irishman wouldn't be caught dead without his sail-éílle: as we have seen, there's good reason for it".
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What is the difference between a walking stick and a shillelagh?
"A true shillelagh hasn't existed since they ran out of oak in the shillelagh forest.
That many years ago any walking stick would have been called a 'shillelagh' by an Irishman. It had become their word for a walking stick.
Since then, they began making sticks out of blackthorn for the simple reason that they make really strong walking sticks. I suppose, in the early
days, the strength was important since they were for self-defense.
In the days of Sherlock Holmes, a gentleman carried a stick to defend against the riff raff. Some of those sticks had a large head that the owner would drill
out and fill with molten lead (ouch). Doyle makes a point of saying that Sherlock was an excellent 'single-stick' fighter.
I consider the blackthorn walking stick to be the rightful inheritor of the name 'shillelagh'. It goes back far enough in history and has the usefulness to be worthy
of the title.
There you are, more confusion to keep the argument going - that's Irish, we don't really want a definitive answer - takes all the fun out of it." ...Russ and Bridget Haggerty
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Irish Stick, Shillelagh, Cane, Cudgel, Bata:
Was Blackthorn the wood of choice for weapons?
Blackthorn draighneach is the traditional wood to make fighting sticks, because, like other woods in the
Rosaceae family, it is tough and hard. The traditional Irish shillelagh, bata in Gaelic - which means, fighting stick or cudgel is one example of a weapon made with this wood.
 "Bata" is the word for a short club or fighting stick; note its resemblance to the word "baton"- that is what "bata" means. It's also where we get our word "bat".
"Irish boys were given a short shillelagh and began training in the native martial art of Ireland, shillelagh fighting. During adolescence, boys were considered to attain manhood when they finally receive their first full-length shillelagh. The shillelagh became a right of passage, and so does training to fight with it. In fact, this Irish martial art is one of the oldest martial arts on earth, competing easily with the ancient boxing or stick styles of Sumer, Egypt and India. The name for this art is "Bataireacht Sail-Éílle", literally "Cane-battle" (modern pron. "bah-TAH-reht shall-AY-luh")"...Rev. Fr. Antonio Hernandez
"I haven't found any other material that compares to the Blackthorn for its ratio of hardness to lightness with a natural feel. I've tried about a dozen different types of materials, woods and metals, and it seems that the Blackthorn stick ranks as the best overall. The best thing about them are their proportion of weight to strength and their flexability."...Leon Crowely, 40 years instructor in Martial Arts.
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Medicinal Qualities: The Medicinal  qualities of the blackthorn's edible,(but bitter until after the first frost) blue-black fruits, which resemble minature plums, gives us the sloe berry. They were first used by herbalists, to help in the treatment of stomach troubles, and in the dealing of blood disorders.
The Sloe berry is a relative of cherries and plums
and is also used for making of wine and the flavouring of the alcohol beverages of gin, vodka, or poteen.
Sloe gin is made by adding some sugar to a full bottle of sloes, topping up with gin and leaving for as long as possible before drinking.
Blackthorn leaves were dried and mixed with tea leaves in what became known as Chinese tea. Despite their sour taste the sloe is made into a paste is excellent for whitening the teeth and removing tartar. The thorns provided blackthorn ink, the bark a red dye for wool and linen.
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Irish Folklore: Blackthorn is said to have supernatural associations. In the folklore of Ireland, the Blackthorn was thought a magical shrub, because the "little people" are said to dwell there. It is considered unlucky to cut down the tree, but the careful use of the Blackthorn's many useful properties is said to bring good fortune.
 It is said the Blackthorn blooms on Christmas Eve, and thought by many that the crown of thorns placed on Christ’s head during the Crucifixion came from the blackthorn.
Though beautiful, it's said the flowers are thought unlucky if brought into the house, or worn in the buttonhole.
Lunantishees are the Fairy tribes that guard the blackthorn trees or sloes; they let you cut no stick on the eleventh of November (the original November Day), or on the eleventh of May (the original May Day). If at such a time you cut a blackthorn, some misfortune will come to you.
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 Stick Badge Fitting Instructions Fitting your badge to the stick is not difficult here are some helpful tips:
Required tools: 1 mm drill bit or a bradawl and small hammer
Position your badge where you want it on the stick and mark the hole sites. Start off the holes with a bradawl or 1mm drill bit. Re-position the badge insert the nails and with the stick on a solid surface tap the nails home firmly but carefully and try not to hit your badge.
Fit Badge to Thicker 1¼" Sticks Instructions
 The badges will spread with just a little persuasion. Badges need to be positioned on stick face down on a solid surface on a piece of wood (to stop any damage to the badge detail) another piece of wood on top of the stick (to protect the stick) is then hit sharply with a hammer, this is a two man job or vice and clamps if alone. Other white metal coins are too tough for this procedure.
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Droghedy's March: The Irish Droghedy's March from county Wexford as described in 1812 by Patrick Kennedy in "On the Banks of the Boro"
The tune called Droghedy's March was occasionally danced to among the hornpipes, by a performer furnished with a short cudgel in each hand, which he brandished and clashed in harmony with the tune. But we had the good fortune to see it performed in a complete fashion on the borders of the barony of Bargy, in the old manor-house of Coolcul, whose young men , joined by the stout servants and labourers on the farms, were well able, in country parlance, to clear a fair. Amongst these the present chronicler was initiated into the mysteries of mumming, and was taught to bear his part in that relic of the Pyrrhic or Druidic dance, "Droghedy's March."
We practiced it in one of the great parlours, and this was the style of it's execution: six men or boys stood in line, at reasonable distance apart, and six others stood opposite them, all armed as described. When the music began, feet, and arms, and sticks commenced to keep time. Each dancer, swaying his body to the right and left, described an upright figure of 8 with the fists, both of them following the same direction, the ends of the sticks following the same figure, of course. In these movements no noise was made, but at certain bars the arms moved rapidly up and down, the upper and lower halves of the right-hand stick striking the lower half of the left-hand stick in the descent of the right arm, and the upper half of it in the ascent, and vice versa. At the proper point of the march each man commenced a kind of fencing with his vis-a-vis, and the clangs of the cudgels coincided with the beats of the music and the movements of the feet. Then commenced the involutions, evolutions, interlacings and unwindings, every one striking at the person with whom the movement brought him face to face, and the sounds of the sticks supplying the hoochings in the reels....
The steps, which we have forgotten, could not have been difficult, for we mastered them.....This war dance is (or was) performed to a martial tune resembling Brian Boru's march... [Pp.231-32]
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Links:
 Customers from the UK and elsewhere may be interested in a website selling fine hand carved Walking Sticks in native hardwoods.
See the 'magical' walking stick he crafted for the film "Nanny McPhee".
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