Christy Moore introduces a song from Cavan about poteen, the prohibited home distilled drink.
Christy Moore performs 'The Hackler From Grouse Hall', a song about the prohibition of poteen.
The song was written in response to Lord Balfour's law banning the distillation of poteen in Ireland.
Lord Balfour decided that Irish people weren't paying enough tax on drink because all around the country there were people making poteen.
The law hit poteen makers around the country who lost their livelihoods. In response, one man from Grouse Hall in County Cavan wrote a song which was a curse on the Royal Irish Constabulary sergeant James Mullervy, who was enforcing this law against poteen.
Christy Moore performed at the National Stadium in September 1984. The concert was recorded by RTÉ Television and broadcast as part of the second series of 'Festival Folk' on 26 July and 2 August 1985.
This episode of 'Festival Folk' was broadcast on 2 August 1985.
Photo by John Cooney
'Festival Folk' was a series of concerts recorded in the National Stadium, Dublin, featuring well-known folk singers and musicians. It ran from 1983 to 1984.
