Malcolm, I gave the true story of Loch Lomond in Rosie's Posies post by Guest 05:39PM, 22 Oct 02.
On the other hand, how can a website called "The Thistle & Shamrock" be wrong? Repeat the story often enough, and it becomes gospel. Which it has. Legend 4, Twaddle nil.
Frankly, I rank this song right up there with the great Irish classic (shurely by O Carolan) about saintly (shurely should be beatified) Mother McCree.