"Boolavogue," and the very similar "Father Murphy," seem to be the most frequently requested "sad ballads" in our experience. That might be because the lyrics and the airs both have a powerful emotive attraction. I was browsing my history notes earlier and found the "story" related by the songs. Ah, the embellishments of the artistic processes.

26 May 1798 Father John Murphy met with the men of his parish and urged them to turn in their weapons, despite the tales of horrendous atrocities committed by the Yeos around the country. Later that night he joined his parishoners in a walking tour of the area known as the Harrow. After visiting a home rumoured to be a target for the Yeomen's Camolin Cavalry, Murphy and the men came across a Yeo patrol led by Lieutenant Bookey. The Yeo's opened fire and Murphy's men dove for cover. Bookey and one of his cavalrymen galloped toward the house Murphy and his men had just left, and set it afire. They turned to rejoin their cavalry unit, and found they had been driven off by Murphy's men. Bookey's trooper was shot dead and Murphy's pikemen swarmed Bookey and hacked him to death. (Golway, 2000 @ 82) The incident was one of the first actions in the Wexford rising of 1798. (O'Bradaigh, 1997 @ 50) Murphy and his followers fought the British despite the local Catholic Bishop's declaration to excommunicate all catholics who participated in the rebellion.