Some notes from a booklet on Kevin Barry by Sean Cronin, in Cronin`s book, Seamus de Burca states, that the song was written by an Irishman living in Glasgow around the time of the execution, it appeared in ballad sheet form. It was an instantaneous success. Protesting against the pirating of the melody for other songs, De Burca says" The melody like the words, belongs to the man who wrote it, who gave both to the Irish Nation without any reward. Let us preserve this song about a gallant soldier inviolate" Paul Robeson recorded it and it has been sung by all and sundry ever since. But the mystery remains as to who was the composer. Ard Mhacha.