Eleanor Plunkett of Robertstown, County Meath, is said to have been the last survivor of her family. She was probably related to the Christopher Plunkett who appears in the 1655 Civil Survey of County Meath as an "Irish papist", and proprietor on the premise of "an old castle (Castlecome)". According to stories, 30 members of the family shut themselves up in the castle of Castlecome and were "destroyed by boiling water" (O'Sullivan, Vol 2, p. 95). O'Sullivan believes this is probably an exaggerated story from an unpulished deposition of 1641. However, it is likely she was the sole survivor of the family as the first two lines of the state, "Though there survives in this land Only you of your kindred."
When Carolan was composing the song for Eleanor Plunkett her coachman interrupted him, remarking he had heard many of the words in other songs. Carolan was more than irritated by the words and picked up his staff, threatening the coachman with it and replying "Neither you nor any other person will ever hear more of it but what is already composed!"