Incidentally
'Erin Go Bragh' is an interesting example
I the 19th century, particularly in the latter half, the Irish Labourers were regarded with fear and loathing - dig out some of the writings in Punch and Dickens - Charles Kingsley, of 'Water Babies' fame described them as "white Chimpanzees"
Roadworkers in particular came in for particular targets of hared - read Terry Coleman's 'The Navvies'
A million miles from the heroic 'Erin Go Bragh' figure getting the better of a townie figure of authority
The same goes for seamen - Hugill's 'Sailortown' describes the places were seamen frequented as ghettos to be steered clear of
Again, another species entirely than those logn suffering, hard working and hard done by heroes of our maritime folk songs
If you want a town-dwellers view of a sailor's life, dig out Dibden's pastiche pap
Jim