Uisce beatha

Uisce beatha (Irish pronunciation: [ˈɪʃcə ˈbʲahə]) is the name for whiskey in the Irish language and in Scottish Gaelic (spelled Uisge beatha). The word "whiskey" itself is simply an anglicized version of this phrase, stemming from a mispronunciation of the word uisce. This may in turn have influenced the Modern Irish word fuisce ("whiskey"). The phrase uisce beatha, literally "water of life", was the name given by Irish monks of the early Middle Ages to distilled alcohol. It is simply a translation of the Latin aqua vitae.

References

Uisce Beatha (band)

Uisce Beatha was a Canadian folk rock band in the 1990s. Formed in London, Ontario, the band consisted of Alan Glen on lead vocals and banjo, John Glen on mandolin and tin whistle, Paul Meadows on fiddle and harp, Damian Morrissy on bass guitar, Doug Watt on guitar and Marty Coles on drums later replaced by ex Gurriers drummer Patrick McLaughlin. The band took its name from uisce beatha, the traditional Irish name for whisky (literally "water of life" in Irish Gaelic).

The band's best-known song was "Drinking with the Lord", a parody of the Christian hymn "Lord of the Dance" as a drinking song.

The band released two albums as Uisce Beatha, and were a popular draw on the Canadian folk festival circuit. They were sued in 1997 by a Scottish distillery over rights to the band name, and subsequently changed their name to Red. They released one album under that name, but subsequently broke up.

Discography