The comment on the "plausibility" of the Brown and Yellow Earl was not intended to be hypercritical! In fact "ale" is not all that common a word in songs in the Irish tradition either.The Gaelic versions mention neither beer nor nobles - hence my feeling that what appear to be keywords are actually later add-ons.

Versions of this song often involve the old man coming back to watch his own funeral - and not being impressed with the arrrangements made by the widow! The death and resurrection theme probably explains Joyce's interest. It is thought in Ireland that the oldest versions come from Tory Island (off the northwest coast).

Keep up the good work.