Hey, thanks, rich. I just re-listened to the Boys of the Lough recording, then the words I couldn't make out before made sense. Very close to what you provided. Just needed to add the Alleluias as the chorus.
Also, I found in the liner notes on the Boys of the Lough CD that it says it was written by Father John Rankin of Moidart in Scotland for his parishioners, before leaving them to immigrate to Nova Scotia, mid 1800's. alice