Kennedys Version collected in Ireland mentions hash,Which is an American culinary delicacy.
IT must be originally an American song
so I assume it was heard by someone in Ireland,who changed the tune,deliberately or accidentally,or perhaps it arrived in Ireland as a set of words and someone made up the tune,it has been folk processed,and the version I sing does sound very English.
as I sang it for many years in folk clubs,and as Martin played guitar on my second lp,and must have been familiar with the material on my first lp,I always assumed he had heard me sing it and had been inspired to learn it,which I find very complimentary,However this may not be the case,he may have discovered it,by a completely different route.
I also love Charlie Pooles Version[look before you leap] .Dick Miles