Barbara, as you probably know, there are a couple more verses;

As I was walking thru Dublin City
About the hour of twelve at night
Twas there I saw a fair pretty maid
Washing her feet by candle-light

First she'd wash and then she'd raise them
'Round her shoulders she pegged a towel
And in all me life I ne'er did see
Such a fine young lass upon my soul

The chorus is sung with that unusual counting backwards by 2's; even, then odd numbers. I've always supposed it represented the red and black numbers on the roulette wheel. I've heard this sung to a fast rollicking tune in English folk clubs. The version I know is a slow modal tune, as sung by Burl Ives on an old '78 my parents had. It's one of the family favorites.
June