Myth #1 — Is the shillelagh just a souvenir?
No. While many modern versions are decorative, the historical shillelagh was a fully functional fighting stick used in real combat and self-defense.
Myth #2 — Was the shillelagh only used as a walking cane?
No. It often served as a walking cane, but its primary role was as a weapon for bataireacht, the Irish martial art of stick fighting.
Myth #3 — Are all shillelaghs made from blackthorn?
Not always. Blackthorn is most iconic, but traditional craftsmen also used oak, ash, hazel, and holly.
Myth #4 — Is Irish stick fighting a lost art?
No. Though rare, the art survived through family traditions and has been revived in modern systems like Combat Shillelagh.
Myth #5 — Was there only one historical style of shillelagh fighting?
No. Ireland had multiple regional and family styles, each with unique grips, guards, footwork, philosophies and more.
Myth #6 — Did all shillelaghs have a huge knob on the end?
No. Some had large root knobs, but many were straight, tapered sticks. The variety was broad.
Myth #7 – Only giant men used shillelaghs?
It’s the classic image: a towering man with a beard, a barrel chest, and a heavy blackthorn stick in hand. But while this image is certainly colorful, it doesn’t line up with historical reality. The truth is much more interesting and far more inclusive: shillelaghs were used by people of all sizes, ages, and physical builds.
Myth #8 — Shillelagh fighting was always drunken brawling
In reality, shillelagh fighting was a formalized, highly technical martial tradition with deep cultural roots and a sophisticated combative structure.
Myth #9 — Shillelaghs were always heavy weapons
Historically, shillelaghs were often surprisingly light, fast, and agile. Designed for speed, not brute force. The idea that they were primarily heavy impact weapons doesn’t match the historical evidence or the realities of Irish stick fighting.
Myth #10 — Women never used shillelaghs
The truth is that women have always used tools like the shillelagh when needed, whether for defense, survival, or practical tasks.