Afterthought: The HMV recordings explain how, "Lovin' Hannah" got recirculated around the British Isles and Ireland. The records were just out, and on our visit to Bess Cronin I gave her one as a gift. Right away she learned, "Lovin Hannah" and began singing it. When Sandy and Caroline came collecting, years later, she sang it for them, and when asked about it said, "Well I learnt it off a wee record from Jeannie Ritchie!"

Meanwhile, others had learned it from her, and also from the "wee record" I guess, for it appeared on one of Mary Black's early recordings. We met her three or so years ago, and she said, I believe, that her brother had learned it from, "an old lady down the lane from him." It's fascinating how songs travel.