A last word as far as I am concerned, on this song or songs.

There's been debate over the priority of versions - Alan Tyne of Harrow or Valentine O'Hara - personally I can't understand why but that might simply prove my being influenced by the well known philosopher M. Chauvin. However, in attempting to find an incident affecting Val O'Hara I used the Index to the Belfast Newsletter 1737 - 1800 which is on the Illinois University servers and while drawing a blank on a highwayman of that name found that the name existed - there are at least two reports.

Consequently I'm confirmed in my belief that Alan Tyne of Harrow is merely a phonetic rendering of Valentine O'Hara and that yet another attempt by the English to appropriate Irish cultural artifacts has been foiled!

John Moulden