Hi Jim

It's one of those cases where the poem and the song have separate lives, I reckon. I'll check on the original publication of Sheehan's work later - but many of those who sing the piece would be unaware of its literary origins and would instinctively personalise (or folk-process, if you like) the song. Anthologies of Irish poetry, for that matter, were often none too scrupulous about sources, even when they knew the origins - so slight variations are not unexpected there either.

The original Gaelic song (which, as it happens, I have been singing again lately after a lapse of many years) is not really related. All that comes across to the English is a few phrases and a little of the original mood.

p.s. It's reived not rieved - which rather proves the point! ;>)