I'm reckoned to be something of an authority on Irish ballads and I perform this song. You might be confusing 'My Love Is Like a red red rose' by Burns, but he had nothing to do with this song. The general debate is which is older Red Is The Rose or Loch Lomond, because one clearly borrowed the other's tune. I've never found the answer, but I have been told by some very old Irish singers, that Red Is The Rose is the original. Both are lovely songs but I prefer the Irish version. And No Tommy Makem did not write it, but very much helped to revive it along with many other Irish ballads he and The Clancys rescued. You can find words and chords to a huge number of irish songs on the Martin Dardis site unitedireland.tripod.com or might be .ie

Desi C