Origins: Prefer I to Inishowen

29 Aug 10 - 09:22 AM (#2975127)
Subject: Origins: Prefer I to Inishowen
From: GUEST,crumpybumpy

I found this in A Tankard Of Ale
An Anthology Of 120 Drinking Song Lyrics but with no notes as to its origin:

The French, no doubt, are famous souls,
I love them for their brandy ;
In rum and sweet tobacco rolls
Jamaica men are handy.
The big-breeched Dutch in juniper gin,
I own are very knowing ;
But are rum, gin, brandy worth a pin,
Compared with Inishowen ?

Though here with a lord 'tis jolly and fine,
To tumble down Lachryma Christi,
And over a skin of Italy's wine
To get a little misty.
Yet not the blood of the Bordeaux grape,
The finest grape juice going,
Nor clammy Constania, the pride of the Cape,
Prefer I to Inishowen.

---

29 Aug 10 - 09:55 AM (#2975150)
Subject: RE: Origins: Prefer I to Inishowen
From: GUEST,John Moulden

Inishowen refers to whiskey or, more likely, poitín made in the north Donegal peninsula of Inishowen. It's mentioned in several songs, among them "The rollicking boys around Tandragee" where there is a line - 'And sweet Inishowen for a drop of the pure'. Poitín making was a regular industry in the area, to the extent that, in 1812, after one part of the Parish of Clonmany was heavily fined for its production, a number of townlands to the north-west of the Parish declared themselves a republic, barricaded the only road, over the Gap of Mamore, that led into the area at that time. The 'Poitín Republic of Urris' lasted until the British were able, in 1815, to spare troops to invade it, which was accomplished without resistance. It is still, to an extent, a place apart, even within its own Parish.

I know of other songs with reference to Inishowen spirits but need time to look them up.

---

29 Aug 10 - 05:05 PM (#2975401)
Subject: RE: Origins: Prefer I to Inishowen
From: GUEST,John Moulden

SONGS OF THE VINE WITH A MEDLEY FOR MALTWORMS: SELECTED AND EDITED BY WILLIAM G. HUTCHISON - Published by A. H. BULLEN London. 1904
(Page 163)

Inishowen                        William Maginn.

I care not a fig for a flagon of flip,
   Or a whistling can of rumbo;
But my tongue through whisky-punch will slip
   As nimble as Hurlothrumbo.
So put the spirits on the board,
   And give the lemons a squeezer,
And we'll mix a jorum, by the Lord!
   That will make your worship sneeze, sir.

The French, no doubt, are famous souls,
   I love them for their brandy;
In rum and sweet tobacco-rolls
   Jamaica men are handy.
The big-breeched Dutch in juniper gin,
   I own, are very knowing;
But are rum, gin, brandy worth a pin
   Compared with Inishowen?

Though here with a lord 'tis jolly and fine
   To tumble down Lachryma Christi,
And over a skin of Italy's wine
   To get a little misty;
Yet not the blood of the Bordeaux grape,
   The finest grape-juice going,
Nor clammy Constantia, the pride of the Cape,
   Prefer I to Inishowen.

This probably appeared first in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine for 1822. William Maginn, for whom see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Maginn, was a frequent contributor.

All this information came from a simple google search.

---