For centuries the Irish have been associated with a stick weapon called the Shillelagh. And for generations of Irishmen, the Shillelagh was a badge of honor - a symbol of their courage, their martial prowess and their willingness to fight for their rights and their honor. In modern popular culture, the Shillelagh has acquired a less appealing image, one that attempts to declaw the Irish through negative racial stereotypes of the Victorian era, which depict the Irish as harmless club-weilding Leprecauns or drunken, half-witted brawlers. John Hurley's illuminating study forever alters our view of this much maligned and misunderstood cultural icon by revealing the true martial arts culture of the Irish people, its history, evolution and decline and the resulting effects on the Shillelagh - the most powerful and controversial of Irish icons.

A family retells the story of the shillelagh that was whittled from a tree. During the Irish potato famine, Fergus and his family left for America. But first Fergus cut a branch from a blackthorn tree to take a piece of Ireland with him.

The Shillelagh has become synonymous with stereotypes about the "Fighting Irish." The truth is that shillelagh fighting was originally a form of fencing which required training, discipline and skill. Often combining stick-fencing with boxing and wrestling, shillelagh fighting was a once a complex mixed martial art. Now for the first time "Fighting Irish: The ARt Of Irish Stick-Fighting" describes and analyzes this fascinating sport, its essential nature and techniques. This authoritative classic contains clear cut descriptions of the most important offensive and defensive stick-fighting positions and methods. For the first time in history the basic concepts of Irish shillelagh fighting are laid out and explained for both the martial artist and the the interested reader.

Shamrocks, shillelaghs, reed pipes, and leprechauns--these are some of the many symbols that remind us of St. Patrick's Day. Who was St. Patrick? And what is this early spring holiday all about? With warmth and vitality, Edna Barth tells the colorful stories, legends, and historical facts behind St. Patrick's Day and shows how the spirit of this ancient Irish holiday is still alive in many countries. Illustrated with black and white drawings by Ursula Arndt, this is a book to be discovered and read with pleasure by young readers. All of Edna Barth's classic holiday books are now being reissued with fresh, new jacket designs and fun activities inside the paperback covers.