The Rakes of Mallow is a jolly, well-known drinking song about the debaucheries of young gentlemen and their sheer delight in the "raking life", a rake (abbreviated from rake hell) being an amoral dissolute. It was first printed in the early 18th century. Mallow is the crossroads of Munster set in Blackwater Valley and is the administrative capital of North Cork, Ireland. Versions of this song can be found in
Community Book of Irish Songs,
Songs of Ireland and
We're Only Here For The Beer! - Light.
