Star of the County Down

Near Banbridge town, in the County Down
One morning in July
Down a boíthrín green came a sweet cailín
And she smiled as she passed me by
She looked so sweet from her two bare feet
to the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself
For to see I was really there

From Bantry Bay unto Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
That I met in the County Down

As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head
And I looked with a feeling rare
"Pardon me," says I to a passerby
"Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
He smiled at me, "Oh my son," says he
"She's the gem of the island's crown
Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Ban
She's the star of the county down"

From Bantry Bay unto Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
That I met in the County Down

I've traveled a bit but was never smit
since my roving career began
But sure and fair, I surrendered there
to the charms of the girl McCann
I'd a heart to let, and no tenant yet
Had I met in a shawl or gown
But in she went, and I asked no rent
From the star of the County Down

From Bantry Bay unto Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
That I met in the County Down

At the harvest fair, she'll be surely there
And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
And I'll try sheeps' eyes and alluring lies
On the heart of the nut-brown rose
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
Though with rust should my plow turn brown
'til a smiling bride at my fireside sits the star of the County Down

From Bantry Bay unto Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
That I met in the County Down

From Bantry Bay unto Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
That I met in the County Down