At a recent talk by one Brian Mullins on the connections between the Orange and Green song-traditions in the North, he traced the well-known "Sash My Father Wore", via "The Hat My Father Wore", to the following:

IRISH MOLLY-O

Tell me who is that poor stranger that lately came to town
And like a pilgrim all alone, he wanders up and down
He's a poor forlorn Glasgow lad and if you'd like to know
His heart is breaking all in vain for Irish Molly-o

Chorus
She is young and she is beautiful and her likes I've never known
The lily of old Ireland and the primrose of Tyrone
She's the lily of old Ireland and no matter where I go
My heart will always hunger for my Irish Molly-o

Oh but when her father heard of this a solemn vow he swore
That if she wed a foreigner, he would never see her more
He called for young MacDOnald and he plainly told him so
I'll never give to such as you my Irish Molly-o

Mac Donald heard the heavy news and sadly he did say
Farewell my lovely Molly, I am banished far away
Till death shall come to comfort me and to the grave I go
My heart will always hunger for my Irish Molly-0

Mick Maloney (?), apparently, came across this in an American songbook of about 1810. Since then, I've found versions in several later 19th C. books - there are a few other verses in some. I'm just curious as to whether it is still sung, whether the Sash air (slowly and freely) is used - and whether this is the "Irish Molly" tune mentioned in such books. The DT Irish Molly is much later - about 1910, I believe.

Regards