Well, I don't want to squabble and quibble, but you did say that JD's version was 'more appropriate', which I took mean to mean that you found the Dubs version at least somewhat 'inappropriate' - sorry if I misunderstood, which I apparently did.

However, if by "the song's goegraphical roots" you mean Prince Edward Island, you may be surprised at the extent of Irish influence on PEI folk culture which is often evident in speech and musical accents. Somewhat less so now than thirty years ago, but then the song was written about thirty years ago. Given that the Dubliners have a distinctive sound even in the context of Irish music, I think you would find a typical rendering of BSAR in a PEI pub on a Saturday night as close to the Dubliners as to John Denver.

I'll do a little nosing around on youtube to see if I can find anything to illustrate. Just for the heck of it.