When we were last in Ireland in 1990, we heard this song being sung in many a pub. When we inquired about it we were were first told it was traditional. Later someone told us it was contemporary and written by Pete St. John. We then walked into Danny Ryan's Music Shop in Tipperary and bought a slim volume entitled "The Fields of Athenry" which was subtitled "Songs of Pete St. John". The second song in the book, "The Fields of Athenry" says "words and music by Pete St. John".

The sites George directs us to say it was published in 1888.

What's the scoop here?

Bev and Jerry