Like Mick Moloney (see above), I too was fascinated by this thread and to hear from the next of kin of the song's composer.

   Tom Dunphy & The Royal Showband's version, recorded in April 1962, is generally regareded as the first Irish showband release. As per the pre-Beatles pop craze of the time, this was given a skiffle-type treatment, a la Lonnie Donegan's the Battle of New Orleans, with a spoken intro.

While this was Herman's favourite recording and I enjoyed it immensely also, mine would have to be that done by the late Dermot O'Brien & His Clubmen, included on his self-titled album from 1964. What I particularly liked about it was the break-off, as an instrumental bridge, into the tune, The Rakes of Mallow, midway through the song. This recording was also issued as the b.side of Dermot's 1966 Irish no. 1 hit, The Merry Ploughboy; in fact the single could have passed as a double a-side.