I heard a version of this song on Raidió na Gaeltachta today, with lyrics in Irish and English. I think the first name of the singer is Jimmy, but I'm not sure what his last name is -- it sounded Italian almost -- like Venuti or something like that, but with more syllables. Anyway, I noted down some of the English lyrics and found this:


THE LOUGHREA LASSES

Dá mba liomsa Port Omna agus Baile Locha Riabhach,
Luimneach na long agus contae Bhaile Atha Cliath,
Ar do mhuintir dothabharfainn leath agus a thrian,
Ag dúil dul i gcleamhnas leat lá fada agus bliain.

If I had Portumna and Louisborough town,
Limerick with division, and Dublin all round,
I'd part with it all for the sake of you, my dear,
To consult with my darling for a long day and a year.

Nelly Bán suigh lámh liom, a chumann gheal mo chroí,
Leag mo lámh ar do bhráid nó ní mhairfidh mé beo bliain,
Agus shnámhfainn an tSiúir is an tSionnainn gheal ina diaidh,
Thug sí an barr léi ó mhná deasa Bhaile Locha Riabhach.

Nelly Bawn sit hard by me, my own heart's delight,
Leave my heart on your bosom or I'll not live a night,
And I'd swim the lovely Suir and the Shannon after thee,
Among all the Loughrea lassies your equals I can't see.

B'fhearr liom ná capall is dá n-áireoinn a shrian,
Nó fáltas na páirce go ritheann air an fia,
Nó a dtáinig de bháid ó Phort Láirge le bliain,
Ná go dtráchtfainn ar mhná deasa Bhaile Locha Riabhach.

I'd rather than a horse or a bridle to steer,
Than the gains of the field when we run for the deer,
Than all the boats of the harbour of Waterford this year,
That I mentioned the names of Loughrea lasses here.

Má thagann tú go Calainn gur aoibhinn a hamharc,
Beir mo bheannacht leat 'dtí m'Valentine ó tá sí i bhfad uaim,
Ionad coinne bhí eadrainn sna sléibhte dubha ó thuaidh,
Gurb í an tSionna gheal do choinnigh mé, a bhí lán go dtí a bruach.

Farewell to sweet Collan, 'tis a very pretty place,
'Tis there you'll see my Valentine, I long to see her face,
The mountain being so high and I so far away,
'Tis the Shannon's roaring water that caused me to stay.

Tá mo bhás ar mun bauthir ein mhoyau boouve,
Tá mo bhás ar mun bauthir ein bibayaus groug
Tá mo bhás ar mun bauthir ein neeyaus thuam,
Tá mo bhás ar mun nein ma valcutino wouim

The lily of the valley, and the flowers of the vine,
You may come to my burial now if you've a mind,
My corpse will be laid out and the women they will cry,
'Tis the kiss I got last Sunday that caused me to die.


Link to these lyrics here.


The first English lyrics in the version I heard are, I believe:


Oh, Molly Bawn, sit by my side, my giant heart delight
Oh, lay your head upon me, or I won't live the night
[not sure -- something like -- Our rides with the river siúl] and the Shannon after thee
If I could be in love with you a long day and a year


If anyone knows who sang this version and the exact name of it, please let me know. Thanks so much.