Irish Walking Sticks–A Authentic Piece Of Irish History
Irish Walking Sticks are quite distinctive and are very different from conventional walking sticks and canes. They are traditionally made from the Blackthorn bush, which is found throughout Ireland and the British Isles. Also known as the European spiny plum, the Blackthorn bush is very slow growing, producing an extremely hard wood and small, white flowers. The wood is close-grained and the branches from the trunk are covered with sharp spines. There are usually many knots in the wood and the bark is a distinctive, deep reddish-black.
Because the wood is so unique and difficult to work with, Irish Walking Sticks can be very difficult to find. It can take three years to construct an authentic Irish Walking Stick from a Blackthorn bush from the time the branch is cut. Cutting can only occur during a few weeks in mid-winter and then the branches are seasoned for up to two years before they are finally straightened. Only then are they sanded and polished. Originally, sticks from the Blackthorn bush were two to four feet long and were known as Irish shillelaghs. They were established weapons for the rural people of Ireland. Carrying a shillelagh was considered a rite of passage for young men in rural Ireland, and they practiced sparring with it regularly to hone their skills. Throughout the famines of the 1840s, fighting among various clans or political groups was very common, especially at fairs and feast days, and the shillelagh was often the weapon of choice. Fights with shillelaghs were also sporting events. The English actually outlawed them as weapons during the last occupation of Ireland, so the Irish made them into approximately three-foot long walking sticks. On a true Irish Walking Stick, the knob at the end is actually the root of the bush, which can deliver a decisive blow. Also, the bark on the stick is not removed during the design process so the Irish Walking Stick remains sturdy. A metal ferrule is often placed on the tip. Traditionally, the Irish Walking Stick would be placed in a pile of manure or smeared with butter to prevent the wood from splitting while it underwent the drying process, which often involved placing the stick in a chimney to cure. Today, technology has advanced to the point where faux Irish Walking Sticks have been manufactured with injected molded polypropylene with some remarkable results. These have been meticulously copied from traditional Irish Walking Sticks and mimic the genuine article very closely. There is quite a bit of variety in the design of Irish Walking Sticks. Some sticks have a very ornate finish, with decorative stones or designs carved into the wood. There are many different handle designs, as well. The handle can be shaped like an animal or shaped to fit one’s hand, fitted with decorative stones or gems, or simply have a large knot as a handle, in the traditional fashion. No matter the specific intricacies of the design, Irish Walking Sticks represent a genuine piece of Irish history. These beautiful, functional walking sticks are strong and sturdy and will last for decades. The premium quality and meticulous design is a great conversation piece, too.
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