The earliest copy I have isn't dated but I'd say probably 1880s as printed by Horace Partridge at 105, Hanover St, Boston, Mass. There it is credited as written and sung by J. F. Poole and titled 'The Tail iv me Coat'. However it was printed in Britain by Pearson of Manchester and Sanderson of Edinburgh about the same time. I also have the name Sylvester Gaffney as the author. A version was printed in the Scottish Students Song Book p264 with tune, but I can't bring my copy to hand at the moment. Of course it's in most of those little booklets printed in the early 20thc by Waltons in Dublin and in some of Healy's books published later on. The language is most definitely 'stage Irish', and it probably originated in America.