Notes from A Living Voice: The Frank Harte Song Collection [edited by Terry Moylan. Craft Recordings, Dublin, 2020 - pages 88-89]

Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey of Bargy Castle was a Protestant, a popular landlord and a barrister by profession, a member of the Protestant liberal party in Wexford and a senior member of the United Irishmen in Wexford.
Branches of the United Irishmen had spread rapidly throughout Ireland and the first branch in Wexford was formed in Gorey in 1792. Early on in the rebellion Bagenal Harvey was taken prisoner and lodged in Wexford jail where he remained until Wexford was taken after the Battle of Three Rocks. He was then released and appointed Commander in Chief of the insurgent forces. It must be said that his appointment did not meet with unanimous approval; Myles Byrne amongst others felt that although he was a gentleman of integrity, he did not have the military skills to carry out the duties of the position to which he was appointed. This would ultimately prove to be the case.
On the collapse of the rebellion, Harvey and John Colclough with their families sought refuge on the Great Saltee Island off the Wexford coast, hoping to make their way to France. They were betrayed by a man named Richard Waddy and taken to Wexford where they were both tried by court-martial and hanged on Wexford Bridge. Their heads were cut off and placed on spikes over the courthouse in Wexford.
The song was given to me by Paddy Berry, a fine singer, who has published two books of Wexford Songs. The song was written shortly after 1798 but was only heard as a recitation until an air was put to it by Tommy Mallon. Since then it has been widely sung.