The Walton books are a lot better than the Soodlums (which are often, unfortunately, quoted here); they contain a higher proportion of real Irish songs than is usual in such collections, and sometimes even proper writer credits (less often for the English songs included, of course).

The earliest reference in Roud is to the 1956 recording mentioned above. Does anyone know of anything earlier? It obviously isn't a very old song. Cristy Moore got it from Andy Rynne, but said no more about its origins so far as I know.