If anyone is still interested in this thread - I came across a song published in the Fireman's Songster published by A. Winch in Philadelphia with a copyright date of 1868. One song is "Whisky, You're a Villyan." It says - "as sung by Frank Drew. Music published by Marsh's 1029 Chestnut Street". Chestnut Street is a Philadelphia address.

Words are:
Whisky you're a villyan, you led me astray,
Over bogs, over briers, and out of my way,
You wrestled me a fall and you threw me today,
But I'll toss you tomorrow, when I'm sober.

Still whisky you're my comfort by night and by day,
You're stronger and sweeter and spunkier than tay,
One naggin of spirits is worth tuns of bohay,
But above a pint I never could get over.

3d verse - omitted by me.


So goodbye whisky jewel, it's the last word I'll say,
Shake hands and part friends, now I'll stick to bohay,
There's a bade on your lip! Let me kiss it away-
Acushla, you're my darling drunk or sober.

The resemblance to the song made famous by the Clancys is very clear. To me it suggests that there was a well known song before Barrington's copyright in 1873.

Lew Becker