This long, naturally formed branch of wood is called a shillelagh (shil-AY-lee). A shillelagh is an Irish tool which functions as a walking stick, dueling weapon, and club all in one. They are designed to be lightweight for walking, but sturdy enough to withstand a duel. Shillelaghs are polished from one solid piece of wood. Owners hold onto the straight end and strike with the hooked knob.
Shillelaghs have a history in Ireland going back at least a thousand years. Shillelagh duels, much like sword or pistol duels in other parts of Europe, had a specific code of conduct. However, unlike other forms of dueling, shillelagh “duels” often evolved into full combat between clans, during which all participants needed to obey the code rules. The shillelagh was considered an honorable weapon as much as a practical tool. When Great Britain took control of Irish lands and banned the use of weapons for Irish subjects, these “walking sticks” became a form of resistance against the British. Their continued use as walking sticks allowed Irishmen to carry them openly, but they could double function as cudgels at a moment’s notice.
Many aspects of Irish life, from politics to agriculture and language, were repressed or banned by Great Britain during over eight centuries of English control over the region. As a result, many national traditions have become extremely endangered, or have died out entirely. However, recent generations have taken an interest in not just preserving but actively reviving these practices. This includes creating and promoting a Gaelic-only BBC channel, providing economic support for traditional Irish businesses and farms, and teaching more students the art of Irish handicrafts like shillelagh-making. The most recent conflict between Ireland and the United Kingdom, called The Troubles, ran from about 1968 to 1998.
DK Books: The History of Britain and Ireland: The Definitive Visual Guide (ISBN: 978-1465482471)
The history between Ireland and Britain is long, complex, and often violent. The first resource, The History of Britain and Ireland, is a book designed to visually present the story of these two countries to younger (and older) students through a variety of images and graphics. The second resource is an article by Britannica outlining The Troubles, a thirty-year long series of guerilla warfare and terrorism in Northern Ireland over national sovereignty. The Troubles were the most recent violent conflict between the nations, spanning from the late 1960s until 1998. Some students may know of The Troubles from the Netflix series “Derry Girls.”
Is the Irish Language important? A Street Interview in Irish- YouTube
To Have Irish- The Pulitzer Center
In large part due to British power over Ireland, the native Irish language Gaeilge (Gaelic) is severely endangered. In recent years, Irish cultural organizations have launched initiatives to promote, teach, and expand the use of Gaeilge around Ireland. Here is a collection of articles and interviews about Gaelic revival.
Bataireacht: The Ancient Irish Martial Art Making a Comeback- BBC
The shillelagh is an important weapon in Ireland because it corresponds to a whole art of fighting. Ireland has its own national form of martial arts combat called ealaíona comhraic. Different styles of ealaíona comhraic include boxing (Dornálaíocht), collar-and-elbow wrestling (Coraíocht), and shillelagh stick-fighting (Bataireacht). This article from the BBC talks about the origins, the decline, and now the return of Bataireacht as a popular and powerful form of martial arts.
