The Stick Maker from Ireland, Hazel Staff and Irish Walking Stick

There was a time when native woodland flourished and was used by Irish communities to the full, not only in the making of walking sticks. The maiden trees - those grown from seed and intended to reach maturity a century or more later - were hardwood trees and were spaced so their boughs would grow big and wide. Their timber would eventually be cut and seasoned and used by craftsmen all over Ireland. Beneath the maiden trees, smaller trees such as the hazel I use were cut and sold to the Irish stick maker and other craftsmen who lived nearby. They would cut and sort the wood, use whatever they needed for their own special woodland craft, and sell the rest for kindling. Nothing was thrown away. In this age of waste big trees are felled and taken to the mills, and all their tops and the underwood are piled into great heaps and burned.

The Buffalo Horn Handle

The animal which provides the horn handle is a domesticated water buffalo introduced into Italy many years ago. The horn is simply a by-product of the huge mozarella cheese industry and no animal has, or ever will be, needlessly slaughtered just to supply me with buffalo horn. The variety I work with is black although it

may have grey or white streaks running through it below the surface which are particularly sought after.

Each horn is boiled for about an hour before being bent into the required shape on a specially designed jig.
Because of its density, the concentrated heat of a hot air gun is used to shape it.
Cramps are used in the shaping of the horn before leaving it in the vice
to cool and set. There then follows many laborious hours of
final shaping using a series of rasps and abrasive papers
until we finally arrive at the polishing stages where a
number of progressively less abrasive polishes are
applied to obtain the perfect mirror like finish.

Finishing the Cane

A finish is applied to walking sticks to enhance and protect them. I use two coats of yacht varnish, the first diluted with white spirit leaving it to dry overnight between each coat. Sometimes a third coat may be necessary if the cane is to be used as a hiking staff. Once this has dried the walking stick is completed by fitting a ferrule and is then ready for use making the perfect gift from Ireland.

Irish Stickmaker, Balcaun, Charlestown, Co. Mayo, Ireland Tel 353 94 92 55611 Fax 353 94 92 55614