Star of the Co. Down

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 of the Derry's 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 of the Derry's 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 of the Derry's 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

From Bantry Bay of the Derry's Quay
From Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
That I met in the County Down

From Bantry Bay of the Derry's Quay
From Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
That I met in the County Down