The line Handsome boatman and in the last verse " come all ye young men etc ). I do not understand the ambiguity in the lyrics.
The singer is a man so why ask for these. Male singers usually change them to a" Handy boatman " and " come all you Maidens "
The rest of the lyrics suggest that he is not homosexual.
There is also a reference in the main wikipedia article of the translation of the Irish lyric to " There was a Noblewoman "
I am still perplexed.