The Leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/RRTuneBk/Aird3/01/00000102.html website: Dawning has GIF and Abc for Dawning of the Day. They say that the tune is better known as "Sitting in the Stern of a Boat." (Say what?). The song is credited to the Irish but they give Aird's "Airs and Melodies vol. 3" as a source of music transcription.

On http://www.mandolincafe.com/tab/dawnday.txt: Dawning in addition to tabs they note that the song is aka "The Morning Star" and credit it to Thomas Connelan ca. 1660- but cum grano salis, see post of 22 June with link to The Fiddler's Companion, Malcolm Douglas. Or is this a different song?

The line including "Dawning of the Day" figures in several other songs, including the "Love-Talker" (The Ganconer) by Ethna Carbery, 1866-1902, whick seems to be a complete remake of "Dawning of the Day."

Then there is the famous Irish song about the "Gallant hearts of ninety-eight," also with the title "The Dawning of the Day." I will post that one if it is not already in the DT or Forum.