Copied from http://members.tripod.com/~songbook1/DarlingCailinBan.htm. The owner of this site, Niall MacDonagh, says (on this page) that this song was collected by his father, Donagh MacDonagh, but the source is unknown; and that he (Niall) would appreciate any help with identifying the source or supplying the tune.

THE DARLING CAILIN BAN

In the golden vale of Limerick beside the Shannon stream,
The maid lives who holds my heart n (?) she haunts me like a dream,
With shining showers of golden hair, as gentle as the fawn
And cheeks that make the red rose pale, my darling Cailin Ban.

Although she seldom speaks to me, I look on her with pride,
For seven long years I courted her & asked her for my bride,
But dreary times & cold neglect are all from her I've drawn
For I am but a labouring boy and she is a Cailin Ban.

To leave old Ireland far behind runs often in my mind,
And wander far, another bride and country for to find
Then I would never see her more or on her footsteps fawn
For she's the breaking of my heart, my darling Cailin Ban.

Her beauty it is far beyond all other females fine,
She is far brighter than the sun that does all on us shine,
All night she does disturb my rest, I cannot sleep till dawn,
Still wishing that she would be my bride my Darling Cailin Ban.

The girls of Limerick take the sway throughout old Erin's shore,
They bravely fought within the gates, and won, in days of yore,
They kept away the enemy all night, until the dawn,
The worthiest of their daughters is my Darling Cailin Ban.