Star Of The County Down

Near Banbridge town in the County Down

one morning last July,

from a boreen green came a sweet Colleen

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 so see I was really there.

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay

and from Galway to Dublin town,

No maid I've seen like the fair colleen

that I met in the County Down.

As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head

And I looked with a feeling rare.

And I say, say's I, to a passer - by,

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

He smiled at me and he say's, say's he,

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

Young Rosie Mc Cann, from the banks of the bann

She's the star of the County Down."

At the Harvest Fair she'll be surely there

And 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 it is rust - coloured brown.

Till a smiling bride, by my own fireside

sits the Star of the County Down