I can understand some people's irritation at the cultural imperialism of the paddies. And "Dirty Old Town" wouldn't be the only MacColl song that has been hibernicized. I've heard that "The Shoals Of Herring" has been sung as "The Shores Of Erin". And I lately heard a recent recording of "Dirty Old Town" where the words are occasionally changed to "Dirty Ardoyne".   But, after all, it's not like the Elgin Marbles. When we steal the song it's still there where it started. It's a victimless crime.

As for the expatriate/ expatriot thing (and my computer refuses to recognize the existence of the latter), I recently pointed out that misuse or misspelling in a friend's MA thesis. She looked at me as if I was the dreariest pedant who ever lived.