Shillelagh

From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source

Shillelagh is the traditional weapon used by Irishmen in Bata. It is known by many names, including Bata in Gaelic - which means, fighting stick, and udgel. The original cane gets its name from the Shillelagh Forest in County Wicklow. The forest was once famous for its massive stands of fine oaks. It is a short club (approximately 20-24")that was carried as a defense against muggers and thieves in days of old. The Shillelagh are typically made from a stout knotty stick with a large knob on the end. Sometimes, the knob on the end was hollowed out and filled with molten lead; this was known as a "loaded stick."

The bark is left on for added toughness and often a metal ferrule is secured at the end opposite of the knob. To keep the wood from splitting during the drying process, sticks were often buried in a manure pile, or smeared with butter and placed in the chimney to cure. Shillelaghs are still kept in homes and cars throughout Ireland for the purpose of defense.