| The first printing of the song was in an English collection of the noted antiquarian Joseph Ritson. A later printing of the song in Thomas Crofton Croker, Popular Songs of Ireland (London: Henry Colburn, 1839), pp.214-26, gives an extended historiography in which he ascribes the authorship jointly to Owen Bray (lyrics) and T. Mozeen (setting to music). Croker, citing previous publications, states that the song was based on an actual event. The prescribed tune, 'Sighile ni Ghadharadh', was first printed in Burk Thumoth, 12 Irish and 12 Scotch Airs with Variations (London: J. Simpson, c.1745), pp.32-33, no.IV. |
