Thanks, Mary- there is also a link on that page to an audio clip of JJ Niles singing this song- very interesting.

For what it's worth, it seems likely to me that Mr Niles wrote his song based on a song he had collected.

Evidence: I have a recording of Sean 'ac Donncha from Connemara singing Dark is the colour of my True Love's Hair, the words of which are very similar to 'Black is the Colour…' in the DT. It always sounded to me to be a translation from the Irish, but I have no direct evidence for that.

The mention of the Clyde would also likely put the origin of the song back on these islands.

Noreen