There are people out there who seem to get rather irritated when they hear "Dirty Old Town" described as an Irish song. Their irritation seems to me to be a little excessive. I don't believe that Ewan MacColl would have been too annoyed. Possibly he might have been pleased and amused. It is, however, peculiar to see "Sweet Thames" claimed for the paddies. It is a great song and it is ironic that very few people seemed to realise that until Christy Moore recorded it.