This was popularised by the McPeakes. It's on the reissue Topic CD, Wild Mountain Thyme, and the notes (written in 1963 by Bert Lloyd) state: "The melody is of a Munster folk tune. The words are by the Irish poetess, Edith Wheeler. The song came to the McPeakes from Cathal O'Byrne, who organised stage ceilidhs at which Frances senior played as a young man."
Derek