An interesting topic despite my earlier reservations about even raising it.

 Dave the Gnome: good suggestion re the use of same tune/different song. Will try to make time for that. I have already looked at From Clare to Here and opted for Bob Fox, beautifully sung crowned by a lovely instrumental passage (Women of Ireland) before a final chorus. McTell does his own song well but there are others, including Fox and Nanci Griffith (despite an unnecessary change to the lyrics), that I prefer.

LynnH: Couldn't agree more on Oysters/Tabor Love will tear us apart. Love it.

JHW: I was indirectly inspired by your comment, taken in conjunction with one posted at my site, to overcome a dislike of John Denver and check out his version of The Bells of Rhymney. The result: something of an eat-my-words conversion.

What this little thread does is to justify my modest project, which was never intended to prove that this or that version of a song was best but to get a few people thinking and maybe even talking about their own preferences.

Perhaps Dave Swarbrick was broadly right when he said: "Your can do anything you like with music. It doesn't mind."