"The air pre-dates Bunting - it was published in London in the mid-18th century and is probably even older than that. I would certainly be interested to know if TH mentions it by name in the book. It's been so long since I've read it that I can't remember."

Could be. I'm just as much at sea with Irish harp tunes as with the stuff they were playin' in them old village bands in Thomas 'ardy's day. But if was published when and where you say, then yes. I'd have said there was a very good chanc eit would have found its way to Dorset.

Anyway, an emergency's broken out. Check the thread on Hardy I'm about to put up and you won't need to read the book.