Star of the County Down

An eight-part arrangement of the classic Irish song, STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN was written for The Swingle Singers and recorded on their 1991 album of folk songs, ‘Around The World’.

This arrangement is part of the Kikapust Choral Series curated by The Swingle Singers. The series offers choirs an extensive choice of close-harmony a cappella arrangements. All the arrangers/composers Jonathan Rathbone, Ben Parry & Mark Williams were long-standing members of The Swingle Singers.

Near Banbridge town in the County Down
One morning last July
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen
And she smiled as she passed me by
She look so sweet in her two bare feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Such a coaxing elf I’d to shake meself
To make sure she was really there

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
From Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
That I met in the County Down

As she onward sped, sure I scratched me head
And I looked with a feeling quare
And I says, says I, to a passer by
"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 up to Derry Quay
From Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
That I met in the County Down 

At the harvest fair, she'll be surely there
And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
And I’ll try sheep’s’ eyes and deludthrin lies
On the heart of the nut-brown rose
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
Tho’ my plough with rust turn brown
‘Til a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the star of the County Down

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
From Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
That I met in the County Down