Kevin - Diana Poulton in her authoritative biography is dismissive of the idea that Dowland derived (at least in any recent sense) from Dubhlain, Dowlan or O'Dolan, stating that the Dowland form was in use in England "long before his lifetime". She has a long section assessing Grattan Flood's claim that Dowland's father came from Dalkey and that Dowland studied at Trinity. She dismisses these claims and goes on to dismiss with high probability any Irish origin. She concludes: "Unless the registration of his birth should come to light it is unlikely htat this problem can ever be demonstably and unquestionably settled. Nevertheless, it seems reasonably probable that Dowland came from an English family whose name can be traced back to Domesday Book, and not from the Dowlinges, Dubhlaings, Doolans or O'Dolans in Ireland. That there was a Dowland at Trinity College is certain. There may have been others in Ireland at the same time, as Dr.Flood claims, but that any of these were relations of the composer so far remains unproved".

As for Sting's versions of them, I've so far only heard a bit on the TV yesterday and listened to a few of the clips online. At first listening it didn't sound great (and I am a great Sting fan);at least the lute playing sounded as if it might be good, but maybe not Sting's singing. However, the sound quality I heard in the clips wasn't good, so I defer judgement until later; I really would like them to be good!

Mick