The origin and development of this song are rather complex.  18th century broadsides are usually entitled “Cold Winter is Past” or unaccountably “Young Johnson”.  The mention of Kildare in early and subsequent texts suggest an Irish origin, but another theory suggests that it is Scottish and written by Robert Burns.  An Irish version entitled “The Curragh of Kildare” has become very popular, not only with Irish singers but with others.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 3 April 2016