Finding a regional version is a nice idea if you live somewhere for which such could be found.

I agree with several others above regarding the benefits of learning the songs, if not in person, at least from recordings (rather than from print); so I will annotate my suggestions above with some audio sources:

False Lover John - for example Corney McDaid's version or Fred Jordan's "Six Pretty Maids"

Willie O' the Windsbury - I am partial to Anne Briggs' version, omitting the guitar, perhaps only because I learned that one first. I suppose this song may fall into the overdone category; but some versions are so different as to be entirely fresh (e.g.,"There was a lady lived in the west" by Robert Cinnamond, on VOTP17).

Jock O' Hazeldean - Dick Gaughan's version is gorgeous.


Well Sold the Cow/The Crafty Farmer - I love both Bess Cronin's and Packie Byrne's versions.

Feein' Day/Hiring Day - Ellen Mitchell's very charming version or Michael Gallagher's