What is Shillelagh?

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What is Shillelagh?

A shillelagh is a wooden Irish walking stick and club or cudgel,it is typically made from a stout knotty blackthorn stick with a large knob at the top. It has deep rooted associations with Ireland and Irish folklore.

This Irish word is pronounced as shill-lay-lah or shill-lay-lee and  what part of Ireland you are from.

Origins of the Shillelagh

The word Shillelagh originated from the Irish phrase sail éille which translates into English as “thonged willow-stick.”

There is a popular legend telling the story of how  the name came from a king or clan chieftain, Ealach Mac Faelchon who lived in the 7th century AD. His followers were named “Siol Ealaigh ” meaning the descendants of Ealach.

The Shillelagh is thought to have originated in the village of Shillelagh, County Wicklow, and  are usually made from Blackthorn wood with a leather wrist strap joined to the handle. Originally the  Shillelagh was commonly used as a walking cane or walking stick and it later developed as a fighting stick and a deadly weapon in the right hands.

A Shillelagh is typically made from a stout knobby and knotty stick with a knotty head, which can be used for gripping or striking. Blackthorn wood has unique properties which delivers the correct blend of lightness and hardness. A process of cutting, seasoning, oiling, fashioning and sealing can take up to three years. 

Historical records and references reference the practice of stick-fighting in ancient Ireland as an analog to help train Irish warriors in broadsword and sabre fencing. Shillelagh combat fighting originated and was developed from  Irish staff, spear, axe, stick and sword fighting methods.

Shillelagh Law

Shillelagh Law was a code of conduct that revealed the Irish system of morality and ethics, steeped in a love for fighting tradition.

The Shillelagh was the primary weapon used in Bataireacht – a form of traditional Irish stick fighting popular during  the 18th and 19th centuries. During the 18th century bataireacht was practiced primarily with Irish gangs called “factions”. These factions often fought each other at gatherings and events which were mostly purely for sport. 

Shillelagh fighting had evolved into a martial art by the 19th century. Fathers taught their sons how to fight and many young boys were given shillelaghs as a significant rite of manhood. 

Much like a Sensei, the Maighistir Prionnsa (translation, fencing master) furthers the boys’ training with the Shillelagh. As with martial arts, one must show restraint and practice for the sport.

What is Shillelagh Fighting?

Shillelagh fighting is much like sword fighting in that the wielder must skillfully parry and disarm their opponent. It is now a form of Irish martial art and is growing in popularity.  Shillelaghs used in modern sparring are split into short, medium, and lengths.

Modern use of the Shillelagh

The Shillelagh is one of the most recognizable symbols of Irish heritage, especially in America where sports teams, musicians, and even military groups reference the symbol of the shillelagh, including:

• The officers of the US Army National Guard’s Fighting 69th regiment, who carry shillelaghs as rank badges in parades,
• The Boston Celtics’ leprechaun mascot, who leans on a shillelagh,
• The San Diego Padres, who call late-game rallies ‘Shillelagh Power,’
• A jeweled shillelagh given as a trophy to the winner of the USC Trojans/Notre Dame Fighting Irish rivalry game,
• References in the songs ‘Finnegan’s Wake,’ ‘Rocky Road to Dublin,’ and ‘Arthur McBride,’
• and even Dungeons and Dragons, in which ‘shillelagh’ is a low-level spell used by casters to make wooden clubs into powerful bludgeoning weapons.

Learn Combat Shillelagh from home

The Shillelagh is a devastatingly effective weapon from ancient times and it is still an extremely practical and effective weapon today and if you always wanted to train in Shillelagh and Shillelagh Stick Fighting methods then you have found the right solution.

Based upon over 35 years of martial arts experience, the Combat Shillelagh System is where you want to be.

Whether you want to delve deep into the Shillelagh as an entire weapons system all on its own, or you want to add to your existing studies to round out your skills, then THIS is the system for you.

Not found anywhere else, you get access to an incredibly rich amount of learning material provided both online in a Distance Learning Model as well as face to face in hands-on seminars and events. There are multiple levels of material and certification all the way from Green Belt, Brown Belt, Black Belt up to and including Assistant Instructor, Certified Instructor and Master Levels.

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