Sean O`Baoill, notes on O`Riada`s Farewell LP, " this lament for Prince Charlie was written by Sean Clarach Mac Donaill [1691-1754] to the air of An Cnota Ban. In MacDonaill`s time all bard and ryhmers were "without the law", but in spite of this the Gaelic Poets assembled at his farm in Cill Tuathaigh, County Cork, under his presidency.
The parallel between Mac Donaill`s work for Gaelic poetry and his own work for Gaelic music must have been very clear to Sean O`Riada.
Before Sean died he asked that this tune be played at his funeral, by his former colleagues of Ceoltoiri Chualann.
An Buchaill Beo is another name for this song". Ard Mhacha.