SHILELAGH

SHILLELEAGH

SHELLELAGH

HOWEVER YOU SPELL IT, IT IS PRONOUNCED THE SAME,

"SHUH LAY LEE"  

In Irish History

In Irish history when Irish workers were behest by Highwaymen on the long road home, the Shillelagh was used as a defense against cuthroats and thieves. Made of Irish Blackthorn it was named after the Shillelagh forest in County Wicklow , a forest of oad which produced some fine examples.  The wood would be smeared with butter and placed up a chimney to cure, giving the Shillelagh its typical black shiny appearance.  

In Celtic Folklore

Blackthorn Shillelaghs are also associated with Witchcraft. In Scotland in 1670, Major Thomas Weir was burned as a witch along with his most powerful magical tool – a Blackthorn Shillelagh, carved with a Satyrs head, which was said to have fantastic powers – it was even able to fly through the air.  

And the loveable Leprechaun is often depicted leaning on his trusty Shillelagh!

In Celtic Folklore

Blackthorn Shillelaghs are also associated with Witchcraft. In Scotland in 1670, Major Thomas Weir was burned as a witch along with his most powerful magical tool – a Blackthorn Shillelagh, carved with a Satyrs head, which was said to have fantastic powers – it was even able to fly through the air.

In Irish tales, heroes and faeries were aided by the Blackthorn tree - if they threw a twig of Blackthorn after them, it would take root and form an impenetrable hedge or woods, thwarting the pursuing giant.

In Music

In the Irish folk-song "Finnegans’ Wake", the "no-holds barred " rules governing the Faction Fight which takes place during Tim Finnegans wake, are referred to as "Shillelagh Law". This phrase became the perfect description for the fighting code which governed the way Irish martial artists used to fight in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Irish fighting cultire is referred to as either "the Shillelagh Code" or "Shillelagh Law".

In the 1940s There was a popular song, "The Same Old Shillelagh", recorded by several Irish-American including Bing Crosby and Billy Murray about such a weapon being passed along from father to son.

Today’s world finds many Irish-American pub bands operating under the name Shillelagh Law throught the United Stated.

In Sports

In today’s world the winner of the annual match between the ‘Fighting Irish’ of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California holds a ruby-encrusted Shillelagh. The original shillelagh was flown from Ireland by Howard Hughes' pilot, according to legend

 In Art

LaCrosse Original Art entitles “Shillelagh Law” by Michael Gottleib

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And, until we meet again ...
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Irish Blackthorn Shillelagh

Irish Leprechaun leaning on his Shillelagh

“Shillelagh Law” by Michael Gottleib