Shillelagh!

First part of a two-part series, looking at the Irish fighting stick

[@alexblue6991]

My age 71yr old from Scotland my grandfather Blue left North Ireland when my dad was young for work my grandfather Blue always carried his blackthorn walking stick I remember the thorns on it I don't know what happened to the walking stick but I have a few at home it's one of the only thing you can carry in the UK for self defence

[@artawhirler]

Excellent video! Thanks!

[@googleisaterroristorganizan]

Sticks and stones still break bones 😅

[@Lowlandlord]

Need to get you to look into the combat weapon of my people, the hockey stick :P Seriously though, the hurley stick do kinda remind me of a hockey stick. Would also be interested in you looking at a gunstock club such as the Cree or Ojibwe (O-jib-way) would use.

[@wiskadjak]

In Canada we would use a hockey stick.

[@RexApplegate]

A local museum has a shorter fighting club/swagger stick from Somalia with fancy engraving and a hidden dagger like a sword cane. From my limited knowledge of global traditions it impressed me as bit like the Irish or Zulu style club but with a surprise. And it left me wondering, has anyone here encountered antique examples of shillelaghs with hidden blades? I can find only minor evidence of such things via web search.

[@jamesthomas4077]

Thank you so much - you cover all the the hardest questions that come up.

[@DanRedwater]

Lots of interesting stuff in this video. Thanks!

[@miniforest6201]

Great video my man, lot of great info!

[@sheldondillon]

I like your unique stick. Ive been keeping my eye out for a similar one whenever I go out to the bush looking for sticks for canes. Im starting to think that we simply dont have that type of tree where Im from. Saskatchewan Canada, mind you Saskatchewan is a HUGE place, so maybe, just maybe, Ill come across one some day. A man can dream HUH

[@nickybeingnicky]

A loaded head makes a more comfortable cane as well.

[@artawhirler]

I can see how the thorns make the stick a more effective weapon, but don't they also make it very painful to hold?

[@Davlavi]

Always good to discuss.

[@AlexLawngtv]

Thank you! The Irish themed Druid/paladin in my DnD game will love this video!

[@gussie88bunny]

Nice work Paul, informative and concise. Thank you, Angus

[@artawhirler]

As we say in the US: "If you hit somebody with that, they're gonna STAY hit." 😅

[@YeshuaIsTheTruth]

I've never heard that. Which part of the US are you from?

[@artawhirler]

@@YeshuaIsTheTruth Minnesota

[@kentuckyburbon1777]

I'm going to butter my stick ;)

[@kacperjurczyk5500]

Well done

[@Eden894HisBiome]

At least we are moving to blunt force trauma from disembalment.

[@barrettfenwick8028]

Bayonet training adapts to the shillelagh very well. Try it, you may be surprised. :)

[@marksteven6116]

yes we need to all carry a the root of the blackthorn stick to day with all the people being stabbed today do you have blackthorn down under ?

[@GooTimo]

It can only really reliable grown in Tasmania.

[@marksteven6116]

@@GooTimo it the root of the tree that does the harm magic