Source: John McFadden in O’Neill’s 1001 Gems¹

Possibly a composition of McFadden² in honour of his long-time comrade in music James Early. O’Neill’s account of McFadden from Irish Minstrels and Musicians can be found here.

1. Francis O’Neill, The Dance Music of Ireland (1001 Gems). Chicago, Lyon & Healy, 1907, #656, p.117.
   Also appears in:
   Francis O’Neill, O’Neill’s Music of Ireland: Eighteen Hundred and Fifty Melodies. Chicago, Lyon & Healy, 1903, #1419, p.263.
   
2. Not found in any earlier collections in the Bibliography here:
   Paul DeGrae, Sources of tunes in O’Neill’s Music of Ireland and Dance Music of Ireland, 2017 (rev.2021). https://www.irishtune.info/public/oneill-sources.htm (accessed 23/1/23)