X: 1
T: Star of the County Down
C: Words: Cathal MacGarvey
R: air, Song
N: Also played in waltz time
N: There is a County Down in both Ireland and Scotland, and both claim this tune.
N: Lyrics collected from several sources.  No two had the same verses.
N: This is also the tune for an older song, "My Love Nell"
D: Energy Orchard "Shinola"
D: Van Morrison/Chieftains "Irish Heartbeat"
D: Oyster Band "Pearls of the Oyster"
B: Loesberg "Folksongs & Ballads Popular in Ireland"
M: C
K: Em
B,D|"Em"E2E2 E2DE|"G"G2G2 "D"A2GA|"Em"B2AG E2B,2|"D"D6 B,D|
w: 1.~Near to Ban-bridge Town in the Coun-ty Down one_ morn-ing_ in Ju-ly, Down a
"Em"E2E2 E2DE|"G"G2G2 "D"A2GA|"Em"B2AG "D"E2D2|"Em"E6 Bc|
w: bo-reen green came a sweet col-leen and she smiled as she passed me by, Oh she
|:"G"d2B2 B2AG|"D"A2A2 A2GA|"Em"B2AG E2E2|"D"D6 B,D|
w: looked so neat from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut brown hair, Such a
w: Ban-try Bay up to Der-ry Quay and from Gal-way to Dub-lin Town, No_
"Em"E2E2 E2DE|"G"G2G2 "D"A2GA|"Em"B2AG "D"E2D2|"Em"E6 Bc:|
w: coa-xing elf, sure I shook my-self for to see I was real-ly there. Oh, from
w: maid I've seen like the sweet col-leen that I met in the Coun-ty Down.
%: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
%:  Oh she looked so neat from her two bare feet
%:  To the sheen of her nut brown hair,
%:  Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself
%:  For to see I was really there
%:
W:Chorus:
W:  Oh, from Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay      And from Galway to Dublin Town,
W:  No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen  That I met in the County Down.
W:2.
W:  As she onward sped, I shook my head,                And I gazed with a feelin' rare,
W:  And I said, say's I, to a passer-by                "Who's the maid with the nut brown hair?"
W:  Oh he smiled at me and with pride says he          "That's the gem of Ireland's crown.
W:  It's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, She's the star of the County Down."
W:3.
W:  I've travelled a bit, but never was hit    Since my roving career began
W:  But fair and square I surrendered there    To the charms of young Rose McCann.
W:  I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet       Did I meet with in shawl or gown
W:  But in she went and I asked no rent        From the star of the County Down.
W:4.
W:  She'd a soft brown eye and a look so sly,                And a smile like the rose in June.
W:  And you hung on each note from her lily-white throat     As she lilted an Irish tune.
W:  At the pattern dance you were held in a trance           As she tripped through a reel or a jig;
W:  And when her eyes she'd roll, she'd coax, upon my soul,  A spud from a hungry pig.
W:5.
W:  At the Crossroads Fair I'll be surely there           And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes.
W:  With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right    For a smile from my nut brown rose.
W:  No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke                Till my plough turns rust coloured brown,
W:  Till a smiling bride by my own fireside               Sits the star of the County Down.