"The Homes of Donegal" is an Irish ballad written by songwriter Seán McBride in 1955. It has been performed by many singers, most famously by Paul Brady.
McBride was a native of Cruit Island which is in The Rosses area of north-west County Donegal. He was a school Teacher at St.Baithin's school in the Carrigans/St.Johnston area (East Donegal) for most of his life. He died at the age of 90 in August 1996 and is buried on his native Cruit Island.
Seán only wrote the lyrics, the actual air itself may be 150 or more years old, there are many songs around using the same melody, the closest one is a song called "The Faughan Side", This song was part of the Curriculum in national schools in East Donegal and, as Seán was a Teacher in the "Laggan Valley" (East Donegal), it seems prudent to many people to assume he got his inspiration for the "Homes of Donegal" from "The Faughan Side".