[quote="left"]I suspect that whatever tune comes from the "folk" catalogue might be well much older than what we actually know[/quote]

Including Londonderry Air

I suspect that whatever tune comes from the "folk" catalogue might be well much older than what we actually know

That "Borrowed Tunes" thread is something I hadn't looked at for years either. It's an interesting read. And yes, it made me realise that it's actually 16 years since I joined this raft. Blimey. The raft has survived a long time now. And it explains why there's a thread on here somewhere called "Good YouTubes" or something like that. I guess because YouTube was a cool new thing back then.
We were young once. Though I'm not feeling like I ever was. And I've still never done Facespace.

I'm not sure i'd care enough to spend time researching what the oldest Pogues' cover would be. However, i did click your link to the thread on 'Borrowed Tunes' and it was well worth re-reading. It's very hard to believe the thread was started SIXTEEN years ago. During the conversation regarding The Modena City Ramblers' cover of Italian socialist anthem 'Contessa', Christine said she found it difficult to find a source to listen to it. Then i realised that the conversation took place before the existance of YouTube, Spotify and Facebook. Even me (at aged 50) finds it hard to imagine a world without Spotify or Youtube. The other platform i mentioned will remain out of my world, as it has up to this point.

Somewhat esoteric this, but...

….I've been teaching myself to play the tin whistle on and off for rather a long time with varying degrees of success. Finally, I've arrived at the last tune in the Clarke Beginners book (and accompanying CD): "The girl I left behind me" which to my pleasant surprise is identical to Waxies Dargle !!!

Curious and after a bit of research (OK Wiki), it's an English and American marching tune played at the time of the Napoleonic wars. However, it goes back even further - as an English folk song - to the time of Elizabeth the First. Incidentally, I remember it being played in the film "Calendar Girls", accompanying morris dancing, though isn't listed on the soundtrack.

All this got me thinking what's the oldest tune played by the Pogues?

A couple of thoughts:

A form of Greenland Whale Fisheries was apparently published as a ballad pre-1725 though the song itself relates to later events.

Also in the Clarke book is Fanny Power, the basis of the much under-rated London You're a Lady, by O'Carolan (1670-1738), ie after Elizabeth I.

So, is Waxies Dargle the oldest or is anyone aware of an older tune?

EDIT: just found this thread which might be relevant!
http://www.pogues.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=203&start=105