star of the county down

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

Near Banbridge town, in the County Down

One morning last July

Down a bóithrín green came a sweet cailín

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 coaxing elf, sure I shook myself

To make sure I was standing there.

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."

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.

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.

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.

(dress: forever 21; tights: gap; shoes: seychelles; scarf/belt: thrifted; sweatshirt: irish tourist shop)

So this outfit is perhaps more gypsy-folk than Irish-folk, but no matter... I've got a little green going on, which is more than I can say for last year's ensemble. I thought I should probably wear my Ireland sweatshirt for at least one photo, since I found it in a bag of my old clothes last week (pretty timely). When our semester in Dublin was over, my friend Olya and I bought matching sweatshirts (hers was like this but dark green) and took a bus across the country, visiting Sligo, Cork, and Galway (where I promptly had my wallet stolen with my temporary passport inside [since it had originally been stolen in Rome] and spent the rest of the trip crying on the phone trying to find a way to get on an international flight without a replacement).

The lyrics in this post are from my new favorite song in our repertoire. Tonight's the big night! I'm hoping to finagle some video out of the show, but knowing me and my family we will be way too disorganized to manage it :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Sláinte!