Moll’s
Gap is a pass on the watershed
of the Iveragh Peninsula and has fine
views to the north of the Macgillycuddy's
Reeks. It's a world famous panoramic
beauty spot on the Ring of Kerry, in
between Kenmare and Killarney. Thousands
of tourists visit Moll’s
Gap every year to enjoy the
scenery and nature. The rocks at Moll's
Gap are part of a group of
rocks known as Old Red Sandstone.
Moll’s
Gap is named for Moll
Kissane, an ancestor of John
Kissane who is running the farm now.
She ran a small pub (or sibin) here
during the construction of the Killarney – Kenmare
road in the 1820’s. In her time,
Moll Kissane was popular for her illicit
home-made poitin or whiskey, which
she sold in her sibin.
Poitín
(anglicised as putcheen) is an Irish
whiskey. The term is a diminutive of
the word pota (or pot), since Poitín
was traditionally distilled in a small
pot.
For
centuries, Poitín has been produced
in pot stills under the bright moon,
and because of this, came to be known
as "the shine" or moonshine.
The home-brew was strong, some brands
were as strong as 80% volume (160 units),
and had a distinctive dry grainy flavour
with a delicate aftertaste that became
sweeter as it developed. Some rural Irish
people still pour it on wounds and sores,
as they believe it to have disinfectant
properties. With as high an alcohol volume
as it has, it certainly does.
In
1661, King Charles II introduced a levy
on spirits in Britain. In Ireland, however,
it was totally ignored. Ninety-nine years
later, the Crown tried again by outlawing
private distillation unless specifically
licensed by the State. Overnight, a large
proportion of the Irish population became "criminals" as
has anyone who has distilled it privately
since. Poitín recently has been
legalised for consumption in Ireland,
though legal production for export has
been allowed for some time. |
