Peter, these stats could be applied to many countries in the world. To single out the Irish
is unfair.

Jack, it's Irish now. It's sung throughout Ireland in the pubs and associated with Irish singers, not temperance or English singers. It is through Irish singers that I learned and sung the song on numerous Saint Paddy's Day events.

It's origins depict what happens to a folk song when it goes through permutations and variants. It was interesting to hear about it's beginnings though and I thank you for the information.

Frank