To finish the shillelagh, Casey would have either smeared it with butter and hung it in a chimney, or buried it in a pile of manure for several weeks. Casey would have carved the section of trunk to make in rounded and comfortable to hold in the hand. The blackthorn limb formed the length of the cane, whereas the trunk became the knob at the top. Blackthorn is a species of European bush noteworthy for long, sharp thorns. To make it, Casey would have cut a section of the trunk with a limb extending from it from a blackthorn bush. This specific shillelagh was made by Michael Casey himself, probably around 1850. Throughout their history, shillelaghs have variously been symbols of manhood, used in depictions to mock the Irish, and as emblems of Irish pride. Generally ranging from between three to four feet in length, shillelaghs are also sometimes called “knob-sticks” because of the large bulbous head on one end. A shillelagh (pronounced shi-LAY-lee) is a type of walking stick and club particular to Ireland. Michael Casey, like scores of other Irish immigrants, brought his shillelagh with him when he left Ireland. This one, made and owned by Michael Casey, is a reminder of the many immigrant groups that settled in the Blue Mounds area. Like the shamrock, the shillelagh has become closely associated with Ireland and Irish-American identity. Male immigrants leaving Ireland often brought their shillelaghs with them to America. Receiving one was part of a young man’s transition into adulthood and he would continue to carry it as part of being a man. When needs arose, a whack from the knob end could pack quite a punch! Shillelaghs have a history in Ireland going back hundreds of years. Maker attributed to Michael Casey, c.1850Ī shillelagh (pronounced shi-LAY-lee) is sometimes a walking stick, but it is always also a club.
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