by Roger Cox (originally from Corning, Iowa)
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Lucius Field and Gertrude McCutchan McPherren - Nelson, Nebraska
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Photos of McPherren Ancestral Home - Loughbrickland NEW!
McPherren Locations and Travels 1799-1890
1874 Map of Ohio Grove Twp, Mercer County, IL
Norm Ruddock's SW County Down Resources
Star of the County Down
In Banbridge Town in the County Down
one morning in last July,
from a boreen green came a sweet Colleen
and she smiled as she past me by.
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.
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.
As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head,
and I looked with a feelin´ rare,
and I say´s, say´s I to a passer-by,
"Whose the maid with the nut brown hair"?
He smiled at me and he say´s, say´s he,
"That´s the gem in ould Irland`s crown.
She´s young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann,
she´s the Star of the County Down".
(Chorus)
She´d a soft brown eye and a look so sly,
and a smile like the rose in June.
And you hung on each note from her lily-white throat,
as she lilted an Irish tune.
At the pattern dance you were held in trance
as she tripped through a reel or a jig.
And when her eyes she´d roll, she´d coax upon my soul
a spud from a hungry pig.
(Chorus)
I´ve travelled a bit, but never was hit,
since my roving career began;
But fair and square I surrendered thee
to the charm of young Rosie McCann.
With a heart to let and no tenant yet,
did I meet within shawl or gown.
But in she went and I asked no rent
from the Star of the County Down.
(Chorus)
At the Harvest Fair I´ll be surely there,
and I´ll dress in my Sunday clothes.
With my shoes shone bright and my hair cut right,
for a smile from my nut brown rose.
No pipe I´ll smoke, no horse I´ll yoke
till my plough turns rust coloured brown,
till a smiling bride, by my own fireside
sits the Star of the County Down.
(Chorus) / Repeat
mail to:
Roger A. Cox, Spring Lake, MI
rgcox2 (at) gmail.com
updated 14 June 2016