As the tune for "Kevin Barry" seems to have come from the song "Rolling Home to Dear Old England" there is a chance that the song you are looking for is another variant. In you put "Rolling Home" into the search thingy you will get at least three possibilities. "Rolling home2" includes this verse;

And we'll sing in joyful chorus
In the watches of the night,
And we'll greet the shores of England
When the grey dawn breaks the light.

It's a bit reminiscent of the lines you remember.