Why is blackthorn used for shillelaghs

I was recently asked why is blackthorn used for shillelaghs so I thought I would cover why its suitable and some of the historic reasons for this too.
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[@Poohze01]

I'd never connected deforestation with the fondness for blackthorn - I love learning new things! I walk with a stick, and have been making them for a couple of years, purely for my own use as a hobby. No blackthorn here in Australia, sadly, but our native timbers make wonderful fighting sticks. I'll happily watch all the stick-videos you care to make! 😄

[@ramblingkern]

Thank you kindly. Australia does have some fascinating woods.

[@josephdouglas2783]

As a first generation blackthorn stick maker i would like to thank you for your well informed video.

[@ramblingkern]

Thank you for the support

[@patrickodonnell4109]

Nice stick !!

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Cheers for that. I have 2 mate they`re great

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Interesting

[@ernestgendron7805]

Awesome stuff, and fantastic bata/club ✊🏼🙏🏼 Love it!!

[@VTPSTTU]

Thanks for an interesting video. I wish the blackthorn would grow in the United States. I'd love to have a supply here.

[@John-wo5bp]

Rambling kern I use any hard wood and must be heavy I still carry my hand carved oak shillaglah i made during lockdown could not celebrate St Patrick day so I got Guinness in house did fruit ninja with my different hand carved shillaglahs 👍🐾🦊🇬🇧🍀

[@nettleinyourkettle]

Definitely not an expert but cutting down the oak forests might have also been to cut people off from a traditional food source: acorns

[@ramblingkern]

A big part of bringing in livestock did that too taking away farmland from those who needed it.

[@MCKevin289]

I heard that another reason blackthorn was used was for psychological purposes given the Irish folklore surrounding blackthorn.

[@ramblingkern]

I'm sure there was a lot of tradition behind its use too.

[@MCKevin289]

@@ramblingkern
From my understanding they grew on fairy mounds a lot of the time. I have an irish blackthorn shillelagh that was one of my ancestors from Ireland. It’s about 150 years old and is in great shape.

[@ramblingkern]

@@MCKevin289 yes they have a strong link to witchcraft and druidism as well. They also hold up amazingly if cared for.

[@OscarOSullivan]

@@ramblingkern Is there any way to learn Bataireacht

[@ramblingkern]

@@OscarOSullivan there are numerous ways I run weekly classes in it here in Dublin.