Notes from the 1978 recording by Al O'Donnell on the Leader label:
According to the notes by folksong collector Tom Munnelly, the song was composed by Michéal O Longáin of Carrignavar and translated by Seamus Ennis.

Here follow the rest of Munnelly's notes: In July 1798 a party of Tipperary insurgents gathered at Carrigmoclear on the slopes of Sliabh na mBan. They were betrayed by Thomas Neill, an innkeeper from Ninemilehouse. English troops under Generals Myers, St John and Asgill routed the rebels with much slaughter.

Neill fled before some surviors of the conflict attacked and wrecked his inn. a century later Dr George Sigerson (1838-1925) wrote of Neill, "The country people are very cautious not to intermarry with any of his or any other traitor's descendants."