Re limericks in general, Stephan Goranson has recently made the following dramatic discovery in the St. John (New Brunswick)Daily News of Nov. 30, 1880:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fx81AAAAIBAJ&sjid=kCYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3306,6135404&dq=come-to-limerick&hl=en

The article provides

1. The earliest known connection, by many years, of the word "Limerick" with the verse form.

2. Confirmation that the stanzas were sung, rather than simply recited, from at least 1880.

3. Confirmation that the tune used was the Irish slip jig, "Won't You Come (Up) to Limerick?"

4. Confirmation that that phrase was actually used as a chorus.

5. Convergence of all these factors in North America - amazing in itself.