Near Banbridge town, in the County Down
One morning last July
Down a bóithrín green came a sweet colleen
And she smiled as she passed me by.
Oh she looked so sweet from her two bare feet
To the sheen of her nut brown hair.
Such a coaxing elf, that I pinched myself
For to see I was standing there.
And from Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the county down.
As she onward sped, well I scratched my head,
And I looked with a feelin' rare,
And I say's, say's I, to a passer-by,
"Who's that maid with the nut-brown hair?"
Oh he smiled at me and he said, say's he,
"She's the gem of Ireland's crown.
Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann,
She's the star of the county down."
And from Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town,
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the county down.
Well I've travelled a bit, but I've never been hit
Since my roving career began
But fair and square I surrendered there
To the charms of young Rose McCann.
With a heart to let and no tenant yet
Did I meet with in shawl or gown
But in she went and I asked no rent
From the star of the County Down.
From the Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the county down.