Francis your work is stunning’. And you should be recognised for your craft by Irish government keeping the heritage alive with your timeless walking canes , sticks etc
I picked up one of your blackthorn walking sticks to practice Irish stick fighting with and considering I'm allowed to carry it with me everywhere I go is just a great feeling. Not to mention, that I can just train anywhere I want.
I love the blackthorn walking stick! I use it almost every day even though I don't really need it to walk, I just love the connection I have with it and to my Irish heritage. Thank you so much for your work and help giving me a piece of Ireland I can hold onto for life!
Hello Francis! Thank you for the history on the shillelagh! I love my stick from you and want more! I can't wait to get back on your site and try to pick! 🎉👍
Thank you. I have verg little knowlwdge of Irish culture and folklore. I was called back to Ireland recently to connect and pay my respects to my soul tribe/family, The fairy folk! They came to say hello a few days ago, and i was surrounded by them near my tent... The most intimidating but beautiful experience i have ever had. guided to purchase an Bodhrán today, and have my name put on it (not a musician,so a surprise to me!)... After a very long conversation about myself being bestowed with very powerful gifts at birth, i was Gifted a small shilleleagh, which mow lives on a silver chain around my neck, next to a piece of Moldavite. Something i will cherish very much!
I have a real Irish Blackthorn walking cane that I bought back in the early 1990’s for my dad to use as a cane and when he passed I kept it for myself and use it now and love it. I bought the Blackthorn from a company called Cold Steel here in the U. S.
I really enjoyed the part where you show the shillalah and the walking stick. Those are really nice. I’m hoping to get a couple of the walking sticks for my hiking buddies.
Amazing work! I will be visiting your website. Interesting the true meaning of a shallelagh and its heritage. I am a U.S Navy Veteran and I am not sure if you have ever heard of this, but the term shallelagh was used for an initiation tool/weapon used during a ceremony when a U.S. Navy crosses the equator. It is made while out at sea from a piece of firehose that soaked in the ocean hanging over the side of the ship at a minimum of 2 weeks. After those 2 weeks, a handle is made by wrapping line around one or the ends and the it is laid out flat on top of one of the boilers down in the engine rooms until it is as hard as metal and shaped as a paddle. was fortunate enough to have been able to participate in one of the very last original ceremonies ever celebrated in the US Navy. One of the main reasons it is no longer celebrated in its true form is because, ladies I mean no disrespect, ladies were allowed to be stationed on US Navy ships back in 1996. Another reason was because of hazing. If you ask me, I believe some of the ladies would have toughed it out until the end than some of the men quit earlier on. And then you those who just chose not participate. It was okay if you chose not to participate, but you were not allowed to get out of your rack until the ceremony was over. I will just put it this way, when I went through my initiation back in July 1993, it started at 3 am and I did not complete it until almost 8 pm that night. As painful as it was going thru it….I do not regret it and I would do it all over again. I still have my ceremonial certificate. Just thought I would share that bit of history for the term shallelagh used in the US Navy.
My family are from killorglin, most still live there I'm over in England, as a boy i'd walk down the lane to the quay to play, i believe there's houses down there now, i'd bike it down to Cromane, they still put the Puck up on the scaffold then, happy days "May the lump of a stick raise the bumps fast and quick" that would make a good sign for the business, if you don't know where that's from let me know 😁
@@FrancisMcCaffrey5 My wife and sisters went back a couple of years ago, they said i wouldn't recognise the place, i used to stay in the little cottage at the top of the lane leading to the quay, the only building in the lane, we look back with rose tinted glasses.
Nice video Francis, some really interesting background lore on the Shillelagh, thanks for that! I wondered if you can engrave one for me? Also what else do you offer, I see tshirts and other goodies in the background in some of your videos? Ta fae Glesga buddy.
It sucks that cancel culture took root in Ireland and that your own government doesn't support your heritage and crafts. I've no connection to Ireland, but would love to go there and visit your shop some day. Thank you for sharing the history of shillelagh and keeping your traditions alive.
Great video Francis. I myself am from England. My mother is Irish from county Tyrone and my father's English. I try my best to learn about both sides of my culture but what you said is right; western governments don't respect localised tradition and culture. It's all part of their globalisation plan
I talk like that on a regular basis, Francis. I know what you mean. There's no need to kiss the blarney stone, lol 😂 it's in the blood the way I talk brought up in a lively tough Irish household. 😊😊😊❤❤❤🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
As a Ulsterman from a Loyalist background I find it sad that the Irish Government does not support Irish traditions and crafts. Sure we probably have differing opinions on partition but as someone that supports old traditions and crafts I feel your government should be pushing your home crafts and skills not trying to sweep them under the carpet just to support globalization.
Appreciate your comment and support . The Irish government needs to focus more on its people and heritage than appeasing the eu over lords ! Jobs and wealth tend to heel divides. We do have different opinions on the border but we have to learn to compromise and co operate. Black stick making has a heritage in both loyalist and republican communities. The orange parades and st Patrick’s day parade has men walking with blackthorn from the island of Ireland.
