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The Star Of The County Down County Down (from the Irish "Dun" meaning castle or fort), is not only the site of the grave of St. Patrick (in Downpatrick), but is also home to the fishing ports of Ardglass, Portavogie and Kilkeel on the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland. "The Star Of The County Down" was originally a sea shanty sung by fishermen (imagine it much slower and rhythmic--music to pull rigging by). In recent years its tempo has been increased by folk and ceili (traditional dance) bands, and is on every Irish folk band's playlist. Banbridge town is in the western part of the county, and as its name suggests, straddles the Bann, an important and historic Northern river. It is also, of course, home to a sweet colleen with the nut-brown hair.

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. Well she looked so neat from her two white feet To the sheen of her nut-brown hair. Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself To make sure I was standing there. Chorus: From the Bantry Bay to Derry Quay And from Galway to Dublin town, No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen That I met in the County Down. As she onward sped sure I shook my head And I gazed in a feeling quare And I said, says I, to a passerby Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair? Oh, he smiled at me, and with pride, says he: That's the jewel of Ireland's crown. She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Ban She's the Star of the County Down. (Repeat chorus) At the crossroads fair I'll be standing there And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes. And I'll use sheep's eyes and delud'ring lies On the heart of my nut-brown rose. No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke Though my plough with rust turns brown Til a smiling bride by my own fireside Sits the Star of the County Down. (Repeat chorus)

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