I first heard this, as an Irish Boy Scout on only my second trip out of Ireland, at a Scout jamboree in the English Lake District - probably 1960. Curiously enough, one of my fellow scouts from the 45th Mount Argus on that ocasion was a lad called Tom Munnelly - who went on to become Ireland's foremost collector of traditional songs. Among his collection were several very rare Child Ballads.

Many years later, having long lost touch with Tom, I started attending a Traditional Song Festival in Ennistymon, Co. Clare - organised by the man himself. It took several years for it to dawn on me why he looked (and sounded) familiar!

Regards