There are several of these songs about an Irishman either enlisting or being pressed, going off to fight for the English in some sea or land battle, and either continuing to serve, perhaps coming back in pieces, or going off to America. They were copied, with variations, from one song sheet printer to another.
The "Kerry Recruit" (c. 1850-1860) belongs to the same 19th c. period. The idea has persisted in songs like "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda," but the straight forward bitterness of the latter usually is not present in these earlier songs.
An Irish provenance seldom can be proven.

"Kerry Recruit" is in the DT; also see the Bodleian Collection and the Mustrad write-up by R. Brown.