"Whiskey in the Jar" is an Irish traditional song set in the southern mountains of Ireland, with specific mention of counties Cork and Kerry. The song revolves around a rapparee (highwayman) betrayed by his lover Jenny. It is one of the most widely performed traditional Irish songs and has been recorded by numerous artists since the 1950s.
The song gained international exposure through performances by Irish folk band the Dubliners in the 1960s, becoming one of their signature pieces. The Highwaymen popularized it in the U.S. in 1962, and Thin Lizzy hit the Irish and British pop charts with it in 1973. The Dubliners re-recorded it with the Pogues in 1990, and Metallica won a Grammy for their rendition in 2000. O’McPub Band’s version closely aligns with the Dubliner take on the tune, though with our own take.