School: Kilmore (roll number 13010)
- Location:
- Kilmore, Co. Leitrim
- Teacher: Eilís, Bean Uí Cheallaigh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0204, Page 263
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Blackthorn Sticks
“The usual stick made is the blackthorn...”
The usual stick made is the blackthorn. The blackthorn is cut and the handle of it is put into a pot of boiling water which makes it soft, when it is soft a knob is turned on it. The makers of sticks are Bob Travers, James Boles, and Pat Kelly. They never cut off the thorns off a blackthorn stick they say you would spoil it. The whim bush makes a very nice stick if it is got the right length and thickness. It is very easy to twist it. A handle or knob is formed on it by putting it in a pot of boiling water.
- Collector
- Tessie Mc Loughlin
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Killadiskert, Co. Leitrim
- Informant
- James Wynne
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 55
- Address
- Kilnagarns Lower, Co. Leitrim
Blackthorn Sticks
“First you cut it then you pare the branches off it and leave the little branches and thorns about a quarter inch long...”
First you cut it then you pare the branches off it and leave the little branches and thorns about a quarter inch long. It makes the stick look fancier. Put it up on the loft over the fire for a few weeks until it gets firmer. Then take it down and brush it with a little varnish to make it look nicer. Then put a little bit of tin on the end next the ground to keep it from wearing.