Dearest leeneia: Only too gratified you should wish to address me in such delightfully familiar terms. Please do, indeed!.

Thank you for support re 'lish'. I wonder if it is derived in any way from 'delicious'?

Indeed, not only recorded by Irish singers anyhow. I recall it on one of Tim Hart & Maddy Prior's early 'Folk Songs of Old England' vinyls. Just went & found it on the shelf ~~ the sleeve note reads:

    'This Cumberland song is an amalgamation of three versions collected by Geoff Woods of Leeds between 1945-1967. It is believed to have been written by William Graham, "the Cumberland poacher".'

So, however much all folk music is Irish... LoL!

~M~