Larry was no one in particular... except to his friends. The author was probably Zozimus (Thomas Moran), the Dubliner broadside scribe. In addition to a recording by the Wolf Tones, it has appeared (earlier) in a number of folk song books (e.g. collections by James N. Healy and Frank Harte) and was recorded by the latter. Shay Walker, another Dubliner who lives in Boston, sings it quite often.

All the best,
Dan Milner