The Free State government was preoccupied from an early date with containing the alcohol problem. The Intoxicating Liquor Act (1924) reduced the opening hours of public houses. Three years later, another act reduced the number of licensed premises. Poitín enjoyed a mini-revival at the beginning of the 20th century; with the R.I.C. focusing on their war with the I.R.A. the focus was diverted from the poitín maker. However many members of Sinn Fein were pioneers and were actually opposed to poitín making and drinking in general. If men were drunk they couldn’t train or fight. When someone was suspected of involvement in the poitín trade they were hauled before Local Republican Courts, where fines were given and the poitín maker was made stand in front of the congregation at mass while his still was destroyed. Attacks on the R.I.C. were widespread as they were seen as agents of foreign power, this increased resignations, again allowing the poitín makers to work in relative comfort. Following the Truce in July 1921, the R.I.C. was finally disbanded in 1922.
With the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922, the Provisional Governments initial focus was to bring stability back to the country. The ‘Civic Guards’ were the first Free State Police Force which was established in 1922. Many former R.I.C. members were recruited to the new force and were able to once again clamp down on the illicit distillation trade.
The introduction of bottled gas made poitín making quicker and harder to detect, so-called poitín makers began to distil large batches for profit, and to cut expenses various chemicals like bluestone or even parazone was added to increase the effect of the poitín. The first Garda to be killed while on duty searching for a poitín still was Garda Thomas Dowling, from Fanore Garda Station in County Clare, who was shot dead during an ambush on his raiding party in 1925.
Organised policing in Ireland began with the Dublin Police Act, 1786. The Irish Constabulary was established in 1822 and became the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1867. The Dublin Police was established in 1836. During one of the bloodiest periods in Irish History, the War of Independence 1919-1922, over 400 policemen were killed. In 1922 the Royal Irish Constabulary was disbanded and the Civic Guard was established. The Civic Guard was later renamed the Garda Síochána and in 1925 the Dublin Metropolitan Police merged with the new police force. The "Garda Síochána na hÉireann" (in English - "Guardians of the Peace of Ireland") is Ireland's national police force. The force is responsible for the maintenance of law and order throughout the Republic of Ireland. The mission of An Garda Síochána is to protect life and property, to safeguard the liberties of the individual, to preserve public peace, to prevent and detect crime, to provide guidance for young people as they seek to become caring, law-abiding citizens and in so doing to provide a quality service to the public while maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and efficiency.
In the 1960s, gardai conducted regular raids in a bid to finally stamp out the illicit activity. Newspapers of the day carried regular images of burly sergeants wielding sledgehammers upon cleverly concealed barrels in hay sheds, garden sheds, turf reeks and hidden cellars. In the 1980's the Revenue Commissioners ceased publishing the numbers of illicit detections and seizures, but from 1980 - 1984 there was 123 seizures, compared to the 1970's where there were 110. For gardai, catching the poitin maker red-handed was all about timing. But his ingenuity was legendary. Gardaí uncovered specially constructed cellars in hay barns, hidden rooms in basements, attics and outhouses. Once they even found a concealed wall that would only open by pressing a corner of wood on an ornate dressing table. When it revolved, an entire laboratory was revealed. The poitin stiller typically chose his location deep in the hills and close to a clean water source with reeks of turf, tunneled ditches, specially constructed trapdoors in fields and hollowed out trunks of fallen oak trees providing perfect cover.
Today we have almost 11,000 members in our police force stationed in about 700 police stations throughout the country. For more on the Gardai
Click here to continue reading about Poitín and the Church
With the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922, the Provisional Governments initial focus was to bring stability back to the country. The ‘Civic Guards’ were the first Free State Police Force which was established in 1922. Many former R.I.C. members were recruited to the new force and were able to once again clamp down on the illicit distillation trade.
The introduction of bottled gas made poitín making quicker and harder to detect, so-called poitín makers began to distil large batches for profit, and to cut expenses various chemicals like bluestone or even parazone was added to increase the effect of the poitín. The first Garda to be killed while on duty searching for a poitín still was Garda Thomas Dowling, from Fanore Garda Station in County Clare, who was shot dead during an ambush on his raiding party in 1925.
Organised policing in Ireland began with the Dublin Police Act, 1786. The Irish Constabulary was established in 1822 and became the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1867. The Dublin Police was established in 1836. During one of the bloodiest periods in Irish History, the War of Independence 1919-1922, over 400 policemen were killed. In 1922 the Royal Irish Constabulary was disbanded and the Civic Guard was established. The Civic Guard was later renamed the Garda Síochána and in 1925 the Dublin Metropolitan Police merged with the new police force. The "Garda Síochána na hÉireann" (in English - "Guardians of the Peace of Ireland") is Ireland's national police force. The force is responsible for the maintenance of law and order throughout the Republic of Ireland. The mission of An Garda Síochána is to protect life and property, to safeguard the liberties of the individual, to preserve public peace, to prevent and detect crime, to provide guidance for young people as they seek to become caring, law-abiding citizens and in so doing to provide a quality service to the public while maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and efficiency.
In the 1960s, gardai conducted regular raids in a bid to finally stamp out the illicit activity. Newspapers of the day carried regular images of burly sergeants wielding sledgehammers upon cleverly concealed barrels in hay sheds, garden sheds, turf reeks and hidden cellars. In the 1980's the Revenue Commissioners ceased publishing the numbers of illicit detections and seizures, but from 1980 - 1984 there was 123 seizures, compared to the 1970's where there were 110. For gardai, catching the poitin maker red-handed was all about timing. But his ingenuity was legendary. Gardaí uncovered specially constructed cellars in hay barns, hidden rooms in basements, attics and outhouses. Once they even found a concealed wall that would only open by pressing a corner of wood on an ornate dressing table. When it revolved, an entire laboratory was revealed. The poitin stiller typically chose his location deep in the hills and close to a clean water source with reeks of turf, tunneled ditches, specially constructed trapdoors in fields and hollowed out trunks of fallen oak trees providing perfect cover.
Today we have almost 11,000 members in our police force stationed in about 700 police stations throughout the country. For more on the Gardai
Click here to continue reading about Poitín and the Church