In August 1822 the ‘Irish Constabulary Act’ ’ amalgamated the Constabulary and the Peace Preservation Force into the Constabulary of Ireland. This force later became the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) in 1867, and after suppressing the Fenian uprising was given the ‘Royal’ title by Queen Victoria. In 1836 Colonel William Brereton was appointed as Head of the Revenue Police and re-organised the ‘Poitín Peelers’ into a cohesive disciplined force. Brereton’s methods along with the increased numbers of the Constables proved so successful they almost destroyed the illicit distillation trade. Brereton introduced the Steamship ‘Warrior’ to replace the slower revenue sailboats29 allowing the ‘poitín peelers’ to reach offshore islands before the poitín makers could escape. As a result of their success the poitín police were disbanded in 1857 due to lack of illicit distillation, and their duties transferred to the Irish Constabulary.
In reality the demise of the poitín trade began during the 1820’s, a combination of factors contributed to it, increased peeler raids, a reduction in duties on ‘Parliament Whiskey’30 making it more affordable, the Famine, and also the increase in popularity of Guinness in rural Ireland.
Click here for more on 'Poitín and the Gardaí'
In reality the demise of the poitín trade began during the 1820’s, a combination of factors contributed to it, increased peeler raids, a reduction in duties on ‘Parliament Whiskey’30 making it more affordable, the Famine, and also the increase in popularity of Guinness in rural Ireland.
Click here for more on 'Poitín and the Gardaí'