OK guys, the Stars are getting their collective booties kicked by the Canucks, and I just can't stand to look anymore...Geez, they've even pulled Belfour out of the net and put in the rookie goalie who has two whole NHL games under his jersey...So, here's my theory:
When I started reading this thread and got an idea of what the song might be about (and after checking out the previous thread mentioned by Brakn), something clicked in my head. I remembered a phrase that my grandmother (the daughter of an Irish-speaking woman from County Derry) used to use often to say that she'd been completely confused, "Well, that threw me into a hoolah hallah!"
So, knowing how the sound of the letter 'u' tends to become elongated as it moves west in the States, I broke out my Irish dictionary, and what do I find? Three different phrases used to describe a "confusion, commotion, uproar, noise of the chase". In Irish, the phrases are spelled holam halam, hulm halm, and hulach halach. Say 'em fast enough, and you can hear where "houlihan" might have developed as a pronunciation.
Now, let's assume that the "houlihan" in the song is indeed a particular roping technique. To "throw a confusion" onto/into to someone or something would be a very appropriate phrase in Irish to say that you tricked someone/something, or overcame them in a devious fashion. Exactly what a cowboy would be wanting to do to the cattle that needed to be roped.
And I agree that the phrase "fiery and snuffy" is describing their mood as being restless and ready for the trail after being penned up. If you've ever been around cattle, you'd instantly recognize that 'snuffy' noise and stay out their way. And I'm betting that 'fiery' is referring to the way that cattle roll their eyes around when they're upset, showing the red veins in the muscles of their eye sockets.
Well, there ya go. Like I said, it's just my theory; but, I thought it'd be fun to throw it in the water and see if it floats! ;-)
-- Áine