Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID # |
1956.015.007 |
Object Name |
Shillelagh |
Title |
Shillelagh |
Lexicon category |
5: T&E For Science & Technology |
Date |
19th-century |
Made |
Unknown |
Place of Origin |
Ireland? |
Description |
Wooden shillelagh (cudgel) with long handle and short knob on the end (shaped like a smoking pipe). It has been varnished. |
Provenance |
Mr. Aubrey Holmes reported that Robert McDowall gave this Irish shillelagh to his father, George Holmes of Owen Sound, Grey County. Robert C. McDowall (b. 1864-d. 1942) was a Civil Engineer and Provincial Land Surveyor in Grey County and Owen Sound, Grey County. It likely originally belonged to McDowall's father or grandfather before he had it, as Robert McDowall was born in Canada West in 1864. Robert McDowall and his family moved to Toronto in 1941 after he retired, but had lived in Owen Sound for a long time. He built a prototype flying machine in Owen Sound. Another one of Mr. McDowall's interests must have been the military (one of his ancestors was in the British military). He served as a Colour Sergeant with No. 5 company of the 31st Grey Battalion. Aubrey Holmes was the son of George Holmes and Mary (MacKey) Holmes. The Holmes family were previously located in Puslinch Township before they came to Grey County. Robert Holmes had a lime kiln at Holmes' Rock, along the Garafraxa Road (now 9th Avenue East near 6th Street East, Owen Sound, Grey County). |
Collection |
Personal Gear |
Material |
Wood/Finish |
Found |
Owen Sound, Grey County |
People |
McDowall, Robert Holmes, Aubrey Holmes, George |
Subjects |
Ireland Clubs Self-defense |
Function |
An stick typically made of blackthorn or oak and intended to be carried by a male, which could be used for personal defense. They were often carried by men in Ireland. |