I would agree with the leaving of Limerick theory, here's why.

I was told years ago that the leaving of liverpool was an Irish song. During our mass emigration to the UK and the states there were a few passages that a person could travel, one such route was to the states, via the port of Liverpool, where some emigrants jumped ship to make a go of life there, only to rejoin another ship later for the onward journey, having to leave again, whatever he has made his in liverpool, ie a relationship, while having no personal attachment to the actual town.

"It's not the leaving of liverpool that grieves me, but my darling when i think of you"

This theory has always held it's own for me, but i don't know if it is a 100%fact

I once heard a different version called The leaving of everything and all I love?? anyone know about that version or was it just somebody trying to be original (unsucsessfully!!)