Handmade Irish Walking Stick
Carried by Irish gentlemen for centuries, the shillelagh walking stick was often a symbol of a young man's transition into adulthood. Since the mid-19th century, it has come to represent Irish craftsmanship and hospitality.
The artisan who carves these blackthorn-wood walking sticks in his County Cork home collects the branches on his daily walks through West Cork forests.
- Approximately 36''-38" L. 3/4 " in diameter
- Finished with a rubber tip for traction.
The Irish walking stick—known as a "shillelagh"—is named for the Shillelagh Forest in County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland, once known for its massive oak stands.
The shillelagh's knob was often made from a heavy twisted blackthorn root—for weight, and to pack a wallop in self-defense.
A badge of honor for the man who carries one, a shillelagh was traditionally a sign of a young man's passage into adulthood.
The craftsman who makes our blackthorn and hazelwood walking stick has made the ones presented to U.S. Presidents Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton and Obama as Ireland's official gift on state visits.
From National Geographic:The walking sticks are handmade. The paint dripping is actually