Many are the wonders that Ireland has brought us. St Patrick and poteen, poets and potatoes and, of course that ancient Hibernian anesthetic, the shillelagh.
Alas, 'shillelagh' is nothing but an anglophone corruption of the Irish
sail éille, a village of some 600 souls in County Wicklow. There existed at one time the ancient oak forest of Shelela or Shilleley, levelled in early 18
th century. Irish Oak,
Quercus petraea, was--and in some cases still is--used to make these walking sticks with a weighted head.
Tradition holds, however, that the favoured wood comes from the Blackthorn,
Prunus spinosa, a shrubby tree native Europe and western Asia that grows from three to twelve feet tall. Pruned vigorously, it becomes heavily side branched, making for a good hedge. The side branches form knobs or knots, and when branches trimmed add weight to weapon
Following such preparation but before use, the raw sticks or cudgels were smeared with butter or lard and hung in chimneys to cure, said to create the familiar black shiny appearance. In more modern times and for those chimneyless or an approving fire department, polishing several times with furniture wax will achieve a similar if less darkened shine
Sloe gin is made with the plum-like fruits. According to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver it takes at least eight weeks to create. Freeze the fruit overnight then half fill an airtight bottle with them and top up with gin. Add a couple of spoons of caster sugar, shake well and lay on its side. Turn every other day for at least two months. So says Oliver--but if you can't find sloe fruit or this is too much work, commercial preparations are known.
Pamela Michael (1980) wonderful compendium of old-time country recipes also suggests how to produce a gin liqueur only hers takes a year to produce. For those appreciating more rapid results she also recommends using sloes for jelly, syrup and wine, crystallizing the blossoms and even using the juice as laundry marking ink.
Alas, while
Prunus spinosa still flourishes in Ireland and elsewhere the other side of the Atlantic it is uncommon in North America. So whether for inducing anesthetic effects or more pleasurable pursuits, we must continue to rely on the fortunate inhabitants of the Emerald Isle.
