George Petrie wrote in "Ancient Music of Ireland" (mid 19th c, but modern reprints are available): "Of this song at least two versions have been already printed, and both with English metrical translations, - one by the late Mr. Edward Walsh, in his "Irish Popular Songs," and the other by Mr. John O'Daly, in his "Poets and Poetry of Munster," the versifications in which were made by the late James Clarence Mangan. In both these works the authorship of this song is assigned, but, as it would appear, erroneously, to one of the Irish poetic celebrities of the eighteenth century, - a blind Tipperrary poet named William O'Heffernan; for Mr. Curry has supplied me with a copy of the song which he transcribed from a manuscript now in his possession, and which was written in the year 1780 by a distinguished Clare scribe and Irish scholar, named Peter Connell, or O'Connell; and as in this MS. the name William O'Hanrahan is given as that of its author, such authority is certainly superior in weight to any that has been,m or probably could be, assigned for ascribing it to the Tipperary poet; for it can scarcely be doubted that Connell was personally acquainted with its true author."

Petrie also mentions what we are familiar with, that Caitlín Ní Uallacháin is a personification of Ireland. Síle ní Ghadhra has also been used allegorically as a name for Ireland, as of course has "Roisín Dubh".