G'day Barry,

We have a totally different song The Banks of Claudy collected in Australia from two fine old singers: Sally Sloane of Lithgow, New South Wales and Simon McDonald of Creswick, Victoria. I understand it to be English ... a parted lovers (sailor and his beloved) ... concealed - revealed identity tale. It has the same four-square ballad structure and could be sung to the same tune.

The one I remember Sally singing is a fine tune ... with no really obvious connections with Ireland - despite the fact that many of Sally's tunes came down from her Irish Grandmother Sarah Alexander, of County Kerry. Collector John Meredith noted Colm O Lochlainn had a similar song from ireland - but a different tune (not reproduced in Folk Songs of Australian and the men and women who sang them, John Meredith & Hugh Anderson, Ure Smith, Sydney, 1967).

I will be interested to see if someone does transcribe the tune.

Regards,

Bob