Pictured are It's a Long Way to Tipperary co-writers Harry Williams (left) and Jack Judge (right) with publisher Bert Feldman (centre)

TUCKED away in a corner of rural Warwickshire is a pub that has a special place in musical history.
Not many people have heard of the Tipperary Inn in Honiley, but for anyone wondering why it is special, there's more than half a clue in the name.
The pub is named in honour of a one-time occupant, who co-wrote It's a Long Way to Tipperary - arguably one of the best-known songs in the world.
There is also a genuine Irish connection to the song in that the other co-writer was originally from County Mayo.
Harry Williams, whose family once ran the pub in Meer End Road, Honiley, co-wrote the legendary song with Jack Judge, a music hall entertainer who enjoyed some fame in the early part of the 20th century.
There is much debate as to whether Harry actually contributed to the songwriting process or not. Some say he did not and that his co-credit on the song was actually the fulfilment of a long-held promise by his good friend Jack.
Certainly the current landlady Ruth Edwards feels he did. She and her husband Dave have been running the pub for five years and have built up its reputation is a charming country pub which specialises in serving up home-cooked traditional pub food.
It is also a shrine of sorts to the famous song that gives it its name, with all manner of interesting memorabilia dotted around it, including old pictures and articles relating to It's a Long Way to Tipperary.
Formerly known as The Plough, it was run by the Williams family, though Harry lived in a cottage 100 yards away, now called - would you believe it - Tipperary Cottage. It bears a plaque in Harry's honour.
The town of Swinford too is proud of one of its most famous sons and the Gateway Hotel there has named one of its function rooms in his memory.
A customer who called in at the Tipperary Inn recently told Ruth and Dave how his father had clear and fond memories of Harry Williams being in the pub.
Ruth said: "He was telling us how his father used to use the pub and Harry Williams was well known to the locals. Apparently he was always writing songs and regularly entertained pub-goers on the piano.
"I know some people say he didn't have a hand in writing the song, even though he's on the credits, but I'm sure he did."
There is a theory that Harry was not involved in the creation of the song but Jack Judge was a friend who promised him he would write a song one day on which he would give him a joint credit.
One legend goes that Jack, a native of the town of Swinford in Mayo, once bet someone he could pen a song in a couple of hours and the result was It's a Long Way to Tipperary.
Never can a song have served as such an inspiration in a time of crisis. It was virtually synonymous with World War One, being sung as a morale-booster by the British troops at the time. Not many people are aware but it was also extremely popular with the German troops of the time too.
Reportedly when the song was first written it was called It's a Long Way to Connemara and a relative of Harry Williams once confessed it was never intended to be about Tipperary at all.
The song was written in 1912 and became associated with the war when the 2nd Battalion Connaught Rangers, who had been stationed in Tipperary from 1908-19109, started singing it.
It first rose to prominence thanks to George Curnock, a Daily Mail correspondent, who wrote: "As a company of the 2nd Battalion Connaught Rangers passed us singing with a note of strange pathos in their rich Irish voices a song I had never heard before."
The song went on to sell a million copies in 1914, making Judge and Williams the Lennon and McCartney of their day and it was later recorded by the renowned Irish tenor John McCormack.
The popular legend surrounding the song was that Jack Judge took up a challenge in a pub. Someone bet him that he could not write a song and perform it that night at the theatre across the road where he was booked to entertain.
Legend has it he took the bet and waited for inspiration. Fortuitously he overheard someone say "It's a long way to Tipperary"(or Connemara perhaps) and the rest is history. The song was performed that night and since then it has been performed the world over.
Its contribution to the war effort, regardless of whatever side you were on, is unquestioned. The original sheet music cover said: The Marching Anthem of the Battlefields of Europe - the Immortal It's a Long Way to Tipperary."
These days the pub attracts its fair share of visitors, who come specifically because of its connection with the famous song. Americans in particular who might be in the area visiting Stratford and Warwick are among the most enthusiastic amateur historians to drop by.
It is perhaps odd that people will travel so far to make a visit yet many of the locals probably have no idea whatsoever about its famous links.
One thing is for sure, that the song will continue to be a favourite across the world for many years to come, whether it is being sung in an informal sing-song in Irish bar or by old soldiers at a regimental reunion.
Though whether the mystery of who actually wrote it and how will ever be solved is another matter.
• To find out more about the Tipperary Inn call 01676 533224 or visit www.tipperary.co.uk.