Frank McGrath mentioned Robbie McMahons fine version of this in a recent thread. Barry Gleeson also recorded a slightly different version a while ago. Both appear to derive from a Scottish song called "Oh Why Left I my hame?". I've seen this in a book for schools called "Songs of the Nation" (Stanford, 1906), where it is described as based on a poem by someone called Gilfinnan (I think! Don't have it to hand).

Anyone heard of the song, poem or poet?

Regards

p.s. The only other version I have heard is a strict waltz-tempo song called "My home in sweet Tralee", still occasionally played by wedding-bands and such!