Shilleagh's, walking sticks and anything else you like to carry.

[The Thing]

I searched the search engine to see if there were any past threads concerning Shilleagh's, the legendry Irish walking stick\ weapon. These beautiful sticks from the blackhorn tree are incredibly strong, yet light and ideal as a walking stick\ defensive weapon; which was the original purpose for it's use. I think they are a very beautiful item to own that connects the owner with nature, as each one is hand crafted from a single tree branch. The crafts man with his or her keen eye first selects the most suitable stick, then digs down to the root, which when extracted becomes the handle of the sturdy Shilleagh, pronounced (Shi lay le). As the Blackthorn has sharp posionous thorns that were useful for defence, they are left on, but the sharp ends are filed down to give a ruff edge along the shaft. The stick was traditionally left to dry for up to a year before being smeared with butter and allowed to smoke up a chimney for several weeks. However modern pratice has evolved and the sticks are painted in a glossy black paint with the root handle sporting a knarled and mis-shapen finnish, which is a product of nature. To top or rather to bottom the stick off a brass or rubber mount is placed on the tip to protect from wear and tear.
I myself love my Shilleagh, a signature of my having entered manhood as was the custom of old. So my good friend's please feel free to tell us about your special stick that you like to carry, Shilleagh or otherwise. My stick and friend Seagulls Snout says hello to you all.