A charming ballad I recorded in 1988 with the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.  It was one of my Galway-born Irish mother's very favourite songs!

(1). NEAR TO BANBRIDGE TOWN IN THE COUNTY DOWN
ONE MORNING IN JULY
DOWN A BOREEN GREEN CAME A SWEET COLLEEN
AND SHE SMILED AS SHE PASSED ME BY!
O, SHE LOOKED SO SWEET FROM HER SNOW-WHITE FEET
TO THE SHEEN OF HER NUT BROWN HAIR,
SUCH A COAXING ELF, I HAD TO SHAKE MYSELF
TO MAKE SURE I WAS REALLY THERE!

(Chorus) FROM BANTRY BAY, UP TO DERRY QUAY
AND FROM GALWAY TO DUBLIN TOWN,
NO MAID I'VE SEEN LIKE THE BROWN COLLEEN
THAT I MET IN THE COUNTY DOWN!

(2).AS  SHE ONWARD SPED, SURE I SCRATCHED MY HEAD
AND I GAZED WITH A FEELING RARE
AND I SAID, SAYS I, TO A PASSERBY
"NOW WHO'S THE MAID WITH THE NUT BROWN HAIR?"
OH, HE SMILED AT ME, AND WITH PRIDE SAYS HE,
"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......ETC.

(3). AT THE HARVEST FAIR, SHE'LL BE SURELY THERE
SO I'LL DRESS IN MY SUNDAY CLOTHES
AND I'LL TRY SHEEPS' EYES AND DELUTHERIN' LIES
ON THE HEART OF THE NUT BROWN ROSE
NO PIPE I'LL SMOKE, AND NO HORSE I'LL YOKE
THO' MY PLOW WITH RUST TURN BROWN,
'TIL A SMILING BRIDE AT MY OWN FIRE-SIDE
SITS THAT STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN....

FROM BANTRY BAY......ETC.

The Star of the County Down

Robert White