I am working on a BBC television series and I need to have the males singing a drinking song, not necessarily about drinking, and not too maudlin....... it needs to be around the last quarter of that century when convicts were being transported to Australia. It is difficult to identify songs from the 18th c but I'd like to be as authentic as possible.... give or take a couple of decades but certainly nothing we know was published in the 19th c. I am looking at the following but still not sure whether the little devils were from the 18th c... help please.
Whisky in the Jar (it is in O'Cochlainn), an Irish version of John Barleycorn... is there one? Lillibullero, The Parting Glass (this is pointing towards 1770 for the original... but which is the original), Rising of the Moon (possibly late 18th.. ?) Juice of the Barley? Limerick Rake (I'd like to think it is older but I keeping hitting a wall around 1850s), 'Little Beggerman (aka Red Haired Boy).. not ure of earliest. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU OFFER?

you can respond here or direct to me at wfahey@bigpond.net.au