Thanks Jack - Yes, that's the same bio as I've posted above. IIRC, all I could find in 1999 were his dates! I also got it into my head that he was a clergyman, which is clearly not the case.

I haven't yet checked the air given in The National Song Book to see if it matches the one which, with some variations, is used in Ireland.

The obvious question is whether the song went feral in Ireland before or after its distribution, through schools, in the book. Hard to tell.

Regards