About Us
Our Story
Some crafts are learned. Ours was inherited.
McCaffrey Crafts has been shaping Irish blackthorn walking sticks and shillelaghs by hand since 1847 — nearly two centuries of tradition passed down through five generations of the McCaffrey family in County Kerry, Ireland .
A Family Legacy, Rooted in County Kerry
It began with my great-great-great-grandfather, who first learned to read the land — to find the right blackthorn branch, cut at the right season, and coax it into something both beautiful and enduring. That knowledge has never left our family. Today, as the 5th generation, I carry on that same tradition in our workshop in County Kerry, using the same patient, unhurried methods that have defined our craft for over 175 years.
Every stick begins as a living branch — solid Irish oak or blackthorn, selected by hand from the Irish countryside. From there, it is seasoned for two to three years before a single cut is made for shaping. There are no shortcuts. The wood tells you when it's ready.
The Craft Behind Every Stick
Blackthorn is one of the most demanding woods to work with — dense, knotted, and unforgiving. That's exactly why we love it. Each walking stick and shillelagh we produce is entirely handcrafted, shaped and finished in our County Kerry workshop. No two are alike. The natural grain, the curve of the branch, the character of the knots — these are features, not flaws.
When you hold a McCaffrey stick, you're holding something that has been touched by the same hands, shaped by the same knowledge, and finished with the same pride that has defined our family for generations.
A Word from Francis
"I grew up watching my father work, just as he watched his father before him. There's something deeply grounding about continuing a craft that your family has kept alive for nearly 200 years. Every stick I make is a small act of remembrance — and a hope that this tradition carries on long after me."
— Francis McCaffrey, 5th-Generation Stick Maker
As Seen In
Our work has been recognised by those who care deeply about traditional craftsmanship. McCaffrey Crafts has been featured across Irish and international media:
- TikTok Newsroom (Ireland) — Featured as part of TikTok's Irish Heritage series, celebrating the preservation of traditional Irish crafts.
- Extra.ie — "The TikTok craftsman keeping a 175-year-old Irish tradition alive."
- RTÉ Radio 1 — Francis McCaffrey interviewed on Ireland's national broadcaster about the art of blackthorn stick making.
- BBC Travel — Featured in a piece on Bataireacht, the ancient Irish martial art making a comeback, and the role of the shillelagh in Irish heritage.
- Irish Independent — "Make Shillelaghs Great Again" — Francis McCaffrey calls for a reawakening of Irish stick craft.
- Ireland AM (Virgin Media Television) — Watch Francis McCaffrey's appearance on Ireland's popular morning TV show, showcasing the art of traditional Irish stick making.
Own a Piece of Irish Heritage
Whether you're looking for a traditional shillelagh, a sturdy walking companion, or a meaningful gift rooted in Irish history — you've come to the right place.