I saw a documentary or RTE a few years ago, which was basically giving an insight into a lot of irish ballads, and this song came up. The answer is indeed interesting, and some of our more distinquished (older!) Irish members might verify the facts.

Some years ago (possibly 40's 50's) there was a disaster in Dublin where some inner city tennament buildings collapsed, leading to several fatalities, The buildings were poorly built, and in severe need of repair, housing mainly the poorer people. This lead to a reaction by the Irish Government to start new housing developments on the outskirts of Dublin places such as Tallaght. This would have been around Domonic Behans time

Dubliners had, and still have a conception that life "outside the Pale" is backward and full of Bog men. we fetch the coal in tin baths etc, and the idea of moving out into the wilderness is basically what provoked this mythical song about how bad life was outside of Dublin,

I am so delighted you asked, for I love knowledege of Origins, and this is one which I have enlghtened many people of, and very interesting too, so i think

It was on RTE so it must be true (mustn't it???)