Star of the County Down lyrics

Near Banbridge town, in the County Down

One morning last July

Down a bóithrín 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 winsome elf, I'm ashamed of myself

For the see of her standing there.

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay

From Galway to Dublin town

No maid I've seen like the fair cailín

That I met in the County Down.

As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head,

And I looked with a feelin' rare,

And I says, says I, to a passer-by,

"Who's the maid with the nut brown hair?"

Well he looked at me and he said to me,

"That's the gem of Ireland's crown.

Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann,

She's the star of the County Down."

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay

From Galway to Dublin town

No maid I've seen like the fair cailín

That I met in the County Down.

She had soft brown eyes with a look so shy,

And a smile like the rose in June.

And she sang so sweet, what a lovely treat,

As she lilted an Irish tune.

At the Lammas dance I was in a trance

As she whirled with the lads of the town,

And it broke me heart just to be apart

From the Star of the County Down.

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay

From Galway to Dublin town

No maid I've seen like the fair cailín

That I met in the County Down.

At the Harvest Fair she'll be surely there

So I'll dress in my Sunday clothes,

With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right

For a smile from my nut brown rose.

No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke

Till my plough was a rust colour brown.

And a smiling bride by my own fireside

Sits the star of the County Down.

• Artist:The Irish Rovers
• Album:Gems