THE SAME OLD SHILLELAGH

" ME FATHER BROUGHT FROM IRELAND..."

AN IRISH "BLACKTHORN SHILLELAGH"

                                             (COLD STEEL VERSION)

No one I know of, really wants to have to bop a perp or a vicious

dog (about to chew an arm off) but strange things happen these days,

often when people are out walking and minding their own business.

It's honorably known as "SELF DEFENSE."

Only recently a report came over the news that in the NE quad-

rant of our city, some woman had been attacked by two vicious

dogs---of a breed I won't mention---because the owners of this

type dog do not wish to admit they have dangerous dogs.

Again: WHO wants to bop a dog...or worse still have one's arm 

chewed off?

Pictured above is a real genuine "BLACKTHORN SHILLELAGH"

made  in the USA by Cold Steel. It mirrors some models of the

originals dating back several hundred years in the history of Olde

Ireland.

While most were made of hardwood, often from the blackthorn

bush/tree---Cold Steel has forged an almost indestructible 

instrument made of of molded composite materials.

Evidently SHILLELAGH fighting is/was apart of the Irish

culture dating way back....seems that some bouts were 

"friendly" and others deadly serious. The clubs were often

kept for self defense.

There is a small town on the east coast of Ireland in County

Wicklow by the name SHILLELAGH. It is unclear whether

the piece originated there or not.

And the stick is spelled at least three ways---see the title,

plus try this: "SHILLELEAGH," and "SHELLELAGH."

Any way you cut it, the correct pronunciation is

"SHUY-LAY-LEE."

There is a tradition I had never heard of. When The Fighting

Irish of Notre Dame play USC in football, there is a "Traveling

Trophy" involved. It is a ruby-encrusted SHILLELAGH, said

to have been flown in from Ireland by none other than

Howard Hughes' own plane and pilot. Winner keeps it a year.

Imagine: a RUBY-ENCRUSTED SHILLELAGH!

Bing Crosby, apparently a real Irishman himself,

recorded a catchy tune in the early forties, titled

"The Same Old Shillelagh," "me father brought

from Ireland."

These handy boppers seem to have no "official"

length. The tough Cold Steel version is a handy

26 inches long.

***************

BY MIL

12/28/16