Hi folks, just woke up here in Glasgow, Scotland. Thanks for contributuions, getting some where, glad that it seems there is no glaingly obvious meaning that I've overlooked for all these years. I've got the Five Hand Reel version, glad to see Bobby Eaglesham get a mention, a folk singer of the finest kind. Heard him sing Carrickf live here in Glasgow about a month ago at Celtic Connections festival, supporting Mary Coughlan. He says he got the song from a Clancys songbook when he was 19, he had no money so he cut the relevant page from the book in Biggars Music Shop in sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, with a razor blade, thus is the folk tradition continued.