"what I assume was an Irish version of this song"
I'm pretty sure it's an Irish parody of the Child ballad - we have a recording of the singer I was told by an authority, made the song (I have never checked)
It's one of several such parodies, Dublin balland, 'Johnny Doyle, is said to be a version of Lord Saltoun and Auchannachie (Child 239) - this is disputed, though I believe it is, at least a parody of it
Jim Carroll