"The Rare Old Mountain Dew" or “Let the Grasses Grow” resonates with Ireland's famed illicit whiskey—poitín or poteen. Poitín, brewed by the Irish for centuries, was a covert endeavor to avoid heavy British taxes. The distillers, dubbed poitín makers, navigated a perilous existence, evading authorities and bounty hunters, even as the Catholic Church and the Irish Government opposed their craft.
Despite relentless pursuit, the poitín industry persevered, operating in shadows. Campaigns to legalize poitín persist, but the Irish Government remains unmoved. The song's lyrics vividly portray a "neat little still" hidden at the hill's foot, capturing the essence of a resilient industry that adapted swiftly to evade capture.
Legend suggests St. Patrick himself resorted to poitín when altar wine ran dry, attributing it with miraculous properties. Humor infuses the song as it jests about poitín's curative prowess, transcending religious boundaries.
The term "gougers" denotes hard-drinking companions unafraid to skirt the law—a theme intertwined with the song's narrative. Originally penned for the play "The Blackbird" in 1882, “The Rare Old Mountain Dew”, the song has become immortalized by The Dubliners and The Clancy Brothers.
From the depths of clandestine distilleries to the resonating chimes of Tuam Cathedral's bells, the spirit of poitín lives on, echoing through the verses of "The Rare Old Mountain Dew," an anthem celebrating Ireland's rebellious spirit and enduring traditions.