Thanks for your suggestions, Martin. A search for Sweet Castlehyde and the Praises of Kingstown failed to yield the lyrics but it brought me to this fascinating article (sorry I haven't yet mastered blue clickies): http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/hedg_sch.htmThe author (Julie Henigan)suggests that In Praise of Mullingar is a parody of a genre of songs associated with hedge school scholars and teachers but doesn't point out the this song must have come rather later.
The article also quotes a verse from Sweet Castlehyde. Incidentally this song presumably is about the same property that Michael Flatley bought last year for over IR£3 million. It seems quite appropriate that Castle Hyde once again has an owner with a massive ego.
Any ideas anyone where to get the lyrics for both it and the Kingstown song?
Arthur O'Malley