racy of the soil

Meaning

Adjective

• deeply connected to a place, especially Ireland; indigenous
• deeply connected to the land; rural or rustic; earthy

Origin

• See senses 2 and 3. Popularised in Ireland in the slogan of The Nation (1842–1900) — "To create and foster public opinion in Ireland, and to make it racy of the soil" — adapted from a remark c.1837 by Stephen Woulfe.