"It would take some pretty astounding evidence and a time machine to link any of these ballads to 'historical events'
One of the first Travellers we recorded, 'Pop's' Johnny Connors, from Wexford, referred to the ballad 'Edward' as 'Cain and Abel', introduced it with the biblical story and told us that Cain being cast out by god was the start of Travellers taking to the road.
Can't say fairer than that!
Jim Carroll