In 1968, the predecessor of the Juno’s named The Irish Rovers Canada’s, “Folk Group of the Year”, and the following year, they received a Grammy nomination for “Folk Performance of the Year”.
As hosts of three national television series in Canada and Ireland, through the 1970's and 80s, The Irish Rovers increased the popularity of Irish music by way of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, personally asked the band if they could “please become Canadian” so that they could officially represent Canada throughout the world. Since then, they have represented Canada at no less than five world Expos, and in recognition for a quarter century of contributions to the International music world, The Irish Rovers won the Performing Rights Organization's (PROCAN) 'Harold Moon Award'.
Although all members of the band hail from Ireland, a number of their biggest hits were often "non-Irish". Their own rousing, traditional Irish compositions, however, do comprise the bulk of their music.
By the 90’s, their songwriting was even more prolific than their early years, and production of albums wasn’t about to slow down. Since they desired the freedom that as a younger band, they could not afford, in ’93 The Irish Rovers established their own record company, Rover Records. Their songs tell the story of the Irish, whether it’s a lost love, a sailor on leave, or the simple good taste of a Guinness. Rover Records has put out their last eleven albums, including Celtic Collection, Come Fill Up Your Glasses, Down by the Lagan Side, Another Round, Still Rovin', a Christmas album, and their greatest hits, 40 Years A-Rovin'.
Founding member George Millar is from Ballymena, original member Wilcil McDowell is from Larne, John Reynolds from Belfast, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Ian Millar from Ballymena, and percussionist Fred Graham is also from Belfast.
Former members include founding member Jimmy Ferguson who passed away in 1997 and Joe Millar.
Star of the County Down
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One morning last July
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen
And she smiled as she passed me by.
She looked so sweet from her two bare feet
To the sheen of her nut brown hair.
Such a winsome elf, I'm ashamed of myself
For to see I staring there.
From Bantry Bay up to Derry's 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 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"?
Well he looked at me and he said to me
"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's Quay and
From Galway to Dublin Town
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
That I met in the County Down.
She had soft brown eyes with a look so shy
And a smile like the rose in June.
And she sang so sweet what a lovely treat
As she lilted an Irish tune.
At the Lammas dance i was in the trance
As she whirled with the lads of the town.
And it broke my heart just to be apart
From the star of the County Down.
From Bantry Bay up to Derry's Quay and
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
So I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right
For a smile from my nut brown rose.
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
Till my plough was rust coloured brown.
And a smiling bride, by my own fireside
Sits the star of the County Down.
From Bantry Bay up to Derry's Quay and
From Galway to Dublin Town
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
That I met in the County Down.
From Bantry Bay up to Derry's Quay and
From Galway to Dublin Town
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
That I met in the County Down.
The Irish Rovers's song Star of the County Down tells the story of a chance encounter between the singer and a beautiful young woman in County Down, Ireland. The song paints a picture of the natural beauty of County Down and the charms of the young woman, referred to as the "star" of the county. The singer's infatuation with her is evident in the way he describes her, from her "soft brown eyes" to the "sheen of her nut brown hair." He is enamored by her singing and dancing and is eager to see her again.
The song also highlights the cultural importance of music and dancing in Ireland, particularly during festivals such as the Lammas dance and the Harvest Fair. The singer's desire to impress the young woman at the Harvest Fair by dressing in his Sunday best and shining his shoes demonstrates the importance of appearance and social status in courting rituals.
The song provides a glimpse into the romanticized idealization of rural life and traditional values in Irish society. The idea of finding a wife and settling down in a rural home with a smiling bride by his side is a recurring theme in Irish folk songs. The singer's desire for a simple life of farming and family is reflected in his willingness to give up smoking his pipe and yoking his horse until his plow is "rusted brown."
Line by Line Meaning
Near Banbridge Town in the County Down
I was in Banbridge Town in County Down.
One morning last July
It was in the morning of a day in July.
Down the boreen green came a sweet colleen
A pretty girl walked down the green path.
And she smiled as she passed me by
She smiled at me while walking past me.
She looked so sweet from her two bare feet
She looked beautiful from head to toe.
To the sheen of her nut brown hair
Her hair looked shiny and brown like nuts.
Such a winsome elf, I'm ashamed of myself
She was so charming that I felt embarrassed for staring at her.
For to see I staring there
I was caught staring at her.
From Bantry Bay up to Derry's Quay
She was the most beautiful maid I've seen from Bantry Bay to Derry's Quay.
From Galway to Dublin Town
She was the most beautiful maid I've seen from Galway to Dublin Town.
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
I've never seen a maid as beautiful as her.
That I met in the County Down
I met her in County Down.
As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head
I was puzzled when she walked away quickly.
And I looked with a feelin' rare
I looked at her with a unique feeling.
And I say's, say's I, to a passer-by
I asked a passerby, 'Who is that girl?'
"Whose the maid with the nut brown hair"?
"Who is that girl with shiny brown hair?"
Well he looked at me and he said to me
He looked at me and answered.
"That's the gem of Ireland's crown."
"She is the most precious gem of Ireland."
Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann
Her name is Rosie McCann, and she is from the banks of the Bann River.
She's the star of the County Down
She is the most beautiful and charming girl in County Down.
She had soft brown eyes with a look so shy
Her eyes were brown, and she had a shy look.
And a smile like the rose in June
Her smile was as beautiful as roses in June.
And she sang so sweet what a lovely treat
She sang so beautifully that it was a lovely treat.
As she lilted an Irish tune
She sang an Irish tune in a light and cheerful manner.
At the Lammas dance, I was in the trance
At the Lammas festival, I was hypnotized by her beauty and charm.
As she whirled with the lads of the town
She danced with the local boys in the town.
And it broke my heart just to be apart
It hurt me to be away from her.
From the star of the County Down
She was known as the star of the County Down.
At the Harvest Fair, she'll be surely there
She'll surely be present at the Harvest Fair.
So I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
I'll dress in my best clothes.
With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right
I'll make sure my shoes are shiny, and my hat is in the right position.
For a smile from my nut brown rose
I want her to smile at me.
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
I won't smoke a pipe or use any horse carriage.
Till my plough was rust colored brown
I won't stop working on my farm until my plow is dull and rusty.
And a smiling bride, by my own fireside
I'll be happy with a smiling bride by my own fireside.
Sits the star of the County Down.
The star of the County Down will be my lovely wife.
From Bantry Bay up to Derry's Quay and
She was the most beautiful maid I've seen from Bantry Bay to Derry's Quay.
From Galway to Dublin Town
She was the most beautiful maid I've seen from Galway to Dublin Town.
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
I've never seen a maid as beautiful as her.
That I met in the County Down.
I met her in County Down.
Writer(s): Macgarrey
Contributed by Carter R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheIrishRovers
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