As part of the ‘Peace Preservation Act,’ Chief Constables were appointed in each Barony in Ireland, so long as they were Protestant as stipulated by the Act. These Baronial constables became known as the ‘Old Barneys’. The ‘Old Barneys’ lacked discipline, supervision and even uniforms and were responsible for more disorder and unrest than actually preserving the peace. For more on law and order from the 18th Century click here .
A second Peace Preservation Act was then passed in 1814, which increased the numbers of uniformed constables, and placed a Magistrate into each Barony. This new force was known as the Peace Preservation Force (or ‘Peelers’) and one of their main tasks was to clamp down on the illicit distillation trade alongside the revenue men (nicknamed the ‘poitín peelers’). in 1822 there were about 500 ‘poitín peelers’ stationed in 71 revenue stations, this number rose to about 1100 in 1836. Many of these new Peace Preservation Force or ‘Peelers’ were demobilised soldiers who, having returned from the Napoleonic Wars found themselves looking for employment. The new taxes or introduction of licenses didn’t eliminate the poitín tradition they just forced the poitín makers to the hills and remote areas and so began the war between the poitín makers and the authorities. In the four years between 1802 and 1806 there were over 13,400 unlicensed stills seized by Revenue men.
The illicit Distillation Act (Ir.) 1831 gave increased authority to the new Revenue Police. Revenue men were employed to collect taxes and issue fines on behalf of the Government, These men were known as ‘Gaugers’, and quickly became marked men facing the wrath of the poitín makers and their families who were reluctant to give up this extra source of income. Many landlords were also unwilling to help these excise men and give up the poitín makers as they were rent payers, despite the fact that many landlords were in fact Magistrates and Law Officers. The revenue men enlisted the help of the army but this too proved more problematic. The army in their red coats could be seen from a distance, and they struggled through bog land and over the hilly terrain with their heavy uniforms and equipment allowing the poitín makers to escape. On the whole, local communities supported the poitín makers, and many raids became full on confrontations. With the introduction of ‘The Parish Fine,’ the revenue officer became an even more hated figure.
‘A Poitín Affray near Ballybay in 1797’, highlights one of these confrontations. A revenue man with an escort of twenty troops seized three illegal stills and was approached by a crowd. The troops fired on the crowd killing "a great number of them". Word quickly spread and soon a large crowd gathered seeking revenge. The mob converged on the town of Ballybay where the troops were, and attacked the troops, with the result that only six of the soldiers and the revenue man survived. (for more)
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A second Peace Preservation Act was then passed in 1814, which increased the numbers of uniformed constables, and placed a Magistrate into each Barony. This new force was known as the Peace Preservation Force (or ‘Peelers’) and one of their main tasks was to clamp down on the illicit distillation trade alongside the revenue men (nicknamed the ‘poitín peelers’). in 1822 there were about 500 ‘poitín peelers’ stationed in 71 revenue stations, this number rose to about 1100 in 1836. Many of these new Peace Preservation Force or ‘Peelers’ were demobilised soldiers who, having returned from the Napoleonic Wars found themselves looking for employment. The new taxes or introduction of licenses didn’t eliminate the poitín tradition they just forced the poitín makers to the hills and remote areas and so began the war between the poitín makers and the authorities. In the four years between 1802 and 1806 there were over 13,400 unlicensed stills seized by Revenue men.
The illicit Distillation Act (Ir.) 1831 gave increased authority to the new Revenue Police. Revenue men were employed to collect taxes and issue fines on behalf of the Government, These men were known as ‘Gaugers’, and quickly became marked men facing the wrath of the poitín makers and their families who were reluctant to give up this extra source of income. Many landlords were also unwilling to help these excise men and give up the poitín makers as they were rent payers, despite the fact that many landlords were in fact Magistrates and Law Officers. The revenue men enlisted the help of the army but this too proved more problematic. The army in their red coats could be seen from a distance, and they struggled through bog land and over the hilly terrain with their heavy uniforms and equipment allowing the poitín makers to escape. On the whole, local communities supported the poitín makers, and many raids became full on confrontations. With the introduction of ‘The Parish Fine,’ the revenue officer became an even more hated figure.
‘A Poitín Affray near Ballybay in 1797’, highlights one of these confrontations. A revenue man with an escort of twenty troops seized three illegal stills and was approached by a crowd. The troops fired on the crowd killing "a great number of them". Word quickly spread and soon a large crowd gathered seeking revenge. The mob converged on the town of Ballybay where the troops were, and attacked the troops, with the result that only six of the soldiers and the revenue man survived. (for more)
Click here to continue reading about 'Royal Irish Constabulary'