Verse: 1
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Near Banbridge Town in the County Down, One morning last July
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From a bóithrín green came a sweet cailín, And she smiled as she passed me by
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She looked so sweet from her two bare feet, To the sheen of her nut brown hair
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Such a winsome elf, I’m ashamed of myself For to see I was staring there
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From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin Town
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No maid I've seen like the fair cailín that I met in the County Down
Verse: 2
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As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head, And I looked with a feelin' rare
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And I say's, say's I, to a passer-by "Whose the maid with the nut brown hair"?
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Well, he looked at me, and he said to me, "That's the gem of Ireland's crown
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Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann she's the star of the County Down"
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From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin Town
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No maid I've seen like the fair cailín that I met in the County Down
Verse: 3
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She'd soft brown eyes with a look so shy and a smile like a rose in June
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And she sang so sweet what a lovely treat as she lilted an Irish tune
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At the Lammas dance I was in a trance as she whirled with the lads of the town
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And it broke my heart just to be apart from the star of the County Down
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From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin Town
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No maid I've seen like the fair cailín that I met in the County Down:
Verse: 4
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At the Harvest Fair she'll be surely there and I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
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With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right for a smile from my nut brown rose
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No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke till my plough is a rust coloured brown
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And a smiling bride, by my own fireside sits the star of the County Down