A version of "An Spailpin Fanach" was collected near Callan Co Kilkenny by Seamus Brennan who was collecting for G A Prim of the Kilkenny Moderator
Brenna wrote in 1867: "The song Spailpin Fanach, composed by an airy itinerant labourer near Callan in the latter part of the last century*, the girl spoken of in the 5th verse was a young woman who lived on the Commons of Callan near Carbin Bridge named Miss C...., and no one was allowed to sing it in that locality on account of the satire" from Dunaire Thiobraid Arann (Daithi O hOgan 1981) (printed by the Leinster Leader Ltd.)
* 18th Century.... probably "around" 1798