Star of the County Down

[2] The lyrics of "My Love Nell" tell the story of a young man who courts a girl but loses her when she emigrates to America.

The chorus of a similar song, "The Flower of the County Down" names landmarks local to Down, in contrast to those in "Star" which are from across Ireland.

The song is sung from the point of view of a young man who chances to meet a charming lady by the name of Rose (or Rosie) McCann, referred to as the "star of the County Down".

From a brief encounter the writer's infatuation grows until, by the end of the ballad, he imagines himself marrying the girl.

The song usually begins with the opening verse: 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