G'day Phillipa,

The tune Killaloe was obviously popular in Australia in the late 19th century as several Australian songs, from both bush areas and city, use the tune (and much of the structure). In particular there is a song called The Woolloomooloo Lair about a rowdy larrikin and his brushes with the police that start:
"The day that I was born, it was a cold and frosty morn.
In the famous suburb known as Woolloomooloo ...
which is a direct parody of Killaloe's:
I happened to be born at the time they cut the corn,
Quite contagious to the town of Killaloe..."
.

The Original Killaloe song sems to have been one of those English Music Hall songs that make out the Irish to be a pack of violent yokels. I have a set of words collected here in Australia from an old singer/musician named Joe Cashmere. There should also be sheet music around in old collections. I will post the words that I have. I have a few variations of the tune ... folk-processed by old players bending it to their purposes.

Another Australian song using the tune is:
The Drover's dream A drover's amusing dream about a concert put on by bush animals...when he wakes the sheep have all wandered away
. The tune is still used as a dance tune here.

Regards,

Bob Bolton