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The Boston Celtics’ leprechaun mascot, who leans on a shillelagh,.The officers of the US Army National Guard’s Fighting 69th regiment, who carry shillelaghs as rank badges in parades,.Sports teams, musicians, and even military groups reference the symbol of the shillelagh, including: The shillelagh is one of the most recognizable symbols of Irish heritage, especially in America. Shillelaghs used in modern sparring are split into short, medium, and lengths. Shillelagh fighting is much like sword fighting in that the wielder must skillfully parry and disarm their opponent. The shillelagh was originally used as a gentleman’s weapon in duels and disagreements. It’s not the size of the shillelagh, it’s how you use it: Some shillelaghs have molten lead added to the hitting end to increase the weight of the club. The wood is honed into the perfect shape and then treated with butter or lard and placed in a chimney to cure. Blackthorn and oak, especially the root, are commonly used to craft shillelaghs.
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Shillelaghs are clubs or Irish walking sticks crafted from the stout, knobby branches of trees which are shaped into a heavy “hitting” end with varying lengths of handle. If you’re going to call yourself a true Celt, you may need to study up! Even if you can spell it without spellcheck, you might not know what a shillelagh is.
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