Jim, I'll have to get a hold of that dictionary, thanks for the tip. I do have a big Irish to English only dictionary, 1300 pages, but durd doesn't appear. My informant is an Irish speaking, Irish university, Irish literature specialist: maybe she's wrong.

The McPeake's version is excellent, isn't it: so natural, primitive even, which I think is what Pearse was trying to conjure up; pity he didn't live to hear it. The Irish Tenors version is too fast, Black 47's rock version is interesting, Ronnie Drew's though is my absolute favourite.                                                      

(btw: I'm sticking with dord!)