The tune is attributed to O'Carolan, although Donal O’Sullivan, in his definitive work on the bard could find no incontrovertible evidence of its origin. If Carolan did compose the tune, believes O’Sullivan, it was probably for William Parsons of Garadice, County Leitrim, near Ballinamore. “Caroloan must have known the squire,” writes O’Sullivan, “because he would pass through Garadice on his way home to Mohill from the Maguires of Tempo”. Squire Parsons (who died in March, 1730) lived in Garadice House on the shore of Lake Garadice.