I was given Joe Mulherron's email address by Linda Walker and in response to an email from me Joe replied with the following email:

Geoff
             I wrote the connolly column back in the 70`s . The tune was the bantry girls lament . A number of people took it up ,polished it up and added their own verses ,Its the folk tradition ,I was honoured . I did get the tune from Tim Lyons . Keep up the good work . Joe Mulheron


Thanks Joe.