Well Jim, it was the McPeaks themselves who said to me the lyrics were theirs (see previous post), not the tune.

Francis McPeak Sr, as an intro to WMT when it was "new", said he learned the tune from his late uncle; as recorded in "Ireland, the Songs: Volume 2" 1993 Walton Mfg, Walton Music Inc. Which, by F McPeak Sr's own admission, makes the tune if not it's origin probably trad and at least public domain as said uncle is well past the "70 years after death" expiration date on copyright.

McPeak Sr said he wrote the lyrics and dedicated it to his first wife. Long after she died, he married again and his son, Francis jr, wrote an extra verse to celebrate the marriage. Which doubles the McPeak clan's input to the song.

Certainly the earliest version of WMT, with the 3 verse lyrics and now well known tune, I know of, was first recorded by Francis McPeake Sr in 1957 for the TV series "As I Roved Out" on BBC Northern Ireland.

I've never seen/heard that recording myself, but I'd love to delve in to the BBCNI Archives. I've recorded for the Beeb myself and the forms and declarations one has to sign about the copyright of the music you'll perform are legion, as well as the obligitory signing away of the copyright of the performance. Even back then the Beeb were scrupulous about paying a pro-rata royalty on repeat broadcasts of original work; if F McPeak Sr wrote either tune or lyrics he'd have to have declared it on those forms. It would settle the dispute once and for all.

The interesting question becomes who owns the copyright, or how is the copyright divided, on versions of WMT that singer's have added their own verses too? I can think of two examples off hand, one by the Corries and one by Jay Hirshman, which I present bellow.

The Corries' verse;
I will range through the wilds
And the deep glen sae dreamy
And return wi' their spoils
Tae the bower o' my dearie
&
The Jay Hirshman verse;
Now our daughter's grown up fine
And a suitor comes a callin'
I can see it in her eyes
It's a true love that's blooming