I think it eminently possible that Wellboy who so kindly posted the piece simply misheard "fornenst' as "fornit" as with the Sammy McNally/McNello.
My old county Fermanagh grandmother used the expression "sidey-fornenst" to mean standing right next to someone.
I really don't think this is a Crawford Howard piece, because I've heard James Young do it live and on record, and to the best of my memory, he was credited with the writing of it on the album cover.
It was recorded (though I may be mistaken) on the Outlet label in Belfast late '60's, early '70's.

Seamus