Near Banbridge Town in the County Down One morning last July Down 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 smyself For to 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 feelin' rare And I say's, say's I, to a passer-by "Whose the maid with the nut brown hair"? He smiled at me and he says's, say's he "That's the gem of Ireland's crown. It's Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann She's the star of the County Down". 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. She had soft brown eyes with a look so shy And a smile like a rose in June. And she sang so sweet what a lovely treat As she lulled to an Irish tune. At the patterns dance i was in the trance As she whirled with the lads of the town. And it broke my heart just to be apart From the star of the County Down. 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. 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 turns rust coloured brown. Till a smiling bride, by my own fireside Sits the star of the County Down. 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. 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.