Bards Irish Fiddle Tunebook Supplement/Star of the County Down

"Star of the County Down" is an old Irish ballad set near Bainbrigde in county down, in northern Ireland. The words are by Cathal McGarvey, 1866–1927, from Ramelton, County Donegal. The tune of the song, a pentatonic melody, is similar to that of several other works, including the almost identical English tune "Kingsfold", well known from several popular hymns, such as "Led By the Spirit." The folk tune was the basis for Ralph Vaughan Williams' Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus.

The melody was also used in an old Irish folk song called My Love Nell. The lyrics of My Love Nell tell the story of young man who courts a girl but loses her when she emigrates to America. The only real similarity with Star of the County Down is that Nell too comes from County Down. This may have inspired McGarvey to place the heroine of his new song in Down as well. McGarvey was from Donegal.

The Star of the County Down uses a tight rhyme scheme. Each stanza is a double quatrain, and the first and third lines of each quatrain have an internal rhyme on the second and fourth feet: [aa]b[cc]b. The refrain is a single quatrain with the same rhyming pattern.

The song is sung from the point of view of a young man who chances to meet a charming lady by the name of Rose (or Rosie) McCann, referred to as the "star of the County Down". From a brief encounter the writer's infatuation grows until, by the end of the ballad, he imagines wedding the girl.

One popular arrangement was recorded by Rick Summer Droit on his CD released in 2000

One popular adaptation (keeping the music, but changing the lyrics) is "The Fighting 69th", which is about the famed Irish Brigade of the American Civil War.

The melody is also used for the carol "The Seven Rejoices of Mary," sung by Loreena McKennitt on ''A Midwinter Night's Dream" and for the eponymous song on The Wind That Shakes the Barley (album).

A parody of the song was produced by "Trifolkal" called "The Starbucks of County Down".

Lyrics
Near Banbridge town, in the County Down One morning in July Down a bóithrín green came a sweet cailín 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, sure I shook myself To be sure I was really there.

Chorus: And from Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay And from Galway to Dublin town No maid I've seen like the sweet cailín That I met in the County Down.

As she onward sped I shook my head And I gazed with a feeling rare And I said, says I, to a passerby "Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?" He smiled at me, and with pride says he, "That's the gem of Ireland's crown. She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann She's the star of the County Down."

Chorus

I've travelled a bit, but never was hit Since my roving career began But fair and square I surrendered there To the charms of young Rose McCann. I'd 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.

Chorus

At the crossroads fair I'll be surely there And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes And I'll try sheep's eyes, and deludhering lies On the heart of the nut-brown rose. No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke Though with rust my plow turns brown Till a smiling bride by my own fireside Sits the star of the County Down.

Chorus