I agree that the Patterson version which appeared in the film is lovely. But I have always wondered if that's the melody Joyce had in mind when he has d'Arcy sing in the original story? Joyce refers to it as being "in the old Irish tonality" which Patterson's isn't particularly - his air is much closer to Moore's melodies than to the ancient Gael, and is softened by a certain sentimentality. I have always thought that the original would have sounded more like the air I know to Lord Gregory, which ends with what sounds like a flattened seventh (but actually isn't because it ends on the dominant). That sort of cadence is a common feature in old Irish song and seems closer to the sort of tonality Joyce is referring to. It has a harder, more unforgiving sound which matches the theme of The Dead - to my ear anyway.

Bonnie (who lives near Capoquin)