Here, finally, is the version I promised to post last summer. It's from "Down Erin's Lovely Lee: Songs of Cork" edited by Tomas O'Canainn. He collected it from Seamus Mac Mathuna, himself a collector, who said he collected it in the Sliabh Luachra area.

Sweet Kingwilliamstown

My bonnie barque floats light and free across the surging foam.
It bears me far from Inisfail to seek a foreign home.
A lonely exile driven neath misfortunes cruel frown
From my own home and the friends so dear in sweet Kingwilliamstown.

Whilst here upon the deck I stand and watch the surging foam;
Kind thoughts arise all in my mind for friends I'll ne'er see more;
For childhood's days and happy hours how fast the tears roll down,
For my old home and the friends so dear in sweet Kingwilliamstown.

Shall I no more gaze on that shore or view those mountains high,
Or gaze along Blackwater's banks where I roved as a boy;
Or view the sun o'er Knocknabower light up the heather brown,
Before she flings her farewell beams o'er sweet Kingwilliamstown.


The words are essentially the same as the other versions above except in the first line of the second verse, where Seamus might have mixed up the verses, for it's a repeat of the first verse and doesn't rhyme with the second verse. That and the missing fourth verse.

Cheers,

David