The Dancing Ballad - singer with his sprig of Shillelah, and Shamrock so green

The author of the book in which this picture appeared paid this man a shilling to pose for his portrait. He was 'Thomas McConwick, an Irishman, who traverses the western streets of London, as a vendor of matches, and, like most of his good-tempered countrymen, has his joke or repartee at almost every question put to him, duly attempered with native wit and humour. McConwick sings many of the old Irish songs with excellent effect, but more particularly that of 'Sprig of Shillelah and Shamrock so green,' dances to the tunes, and seldom fails of affording amusement...'