songs to the tune of Star of the County Down

Subject: Star of the County Down
From: Paul Stamler
Date: 18 Feb 98 - 02:41 AM

Hey, folks: How many songs do you know that use the tune "Star of the County Down", aka "Dives and Lazarus"? I've thought about doing a radio show, or at least a segment of one, devoted to these songs, inspired by the realization that "The Blackest Crow", on the Bruce Molsky CD "Lost Boy", is yet another variation on this grand tune. Offhand, I can think of Dominic Behan's "Crooked Jack", and "The Banks of Newfoundland", "Van Dieman's Land" and of course "Dives and Lazarus", all traditional. Others?

Peace. Paul

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Bruce O.
Date: 18 Feb 98 - 01:17 PM

A tune family, compiled from various sources:
Gilderoy, Green Shores of America, Maria Martin, Lazarus, Come all you worthy Christians, The Peacock, Star of the County Down, Unquiet Grave, King Herod and the Cock, The Tree in the Wood, Bonaparte's Retreat, The Babe of Bethlehem.

I've heard of "The Star of the County Down" for years, but I've never seen a copy of text or tune, and I've never heard it sung. The only copies I can trace are one in H. Hughes' 4th vol. of Irish Country Songs, (which I don't have) and another in Edith Fowke's manuscripts. I can only presume that I have the right tune in mind.

Herrmann and Huntington give several songs to the tune.

"My love Nell" (a song by Wm. Carleton) is said to be another variant of the tune, and it is said that "The Tailor and the piper" was the original name of "The Star of the County Down".

"Lonely Banna Strand" is another song to the tune, with an ABC in a recent thread.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: BAZ
Date: 18 Feb 98 - 07:06 PM

I was asked to play this last night and did the slow waltz version from The Fiddlers Fake Book. Added to those above from Hymns and Psalms The Methodist Hymn Book I heard the voice of Jesus say.
I've just thought of another 'The Lancashire Lads'

Regards
Baz

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Lorraine
Date: 18 Feb 98 - 08:30 PM

"My Dearest Dear" (The time has come my dearest dear when you and I must part -but you'll never know the tears and woes of my poor breaking heart)uses that tune with a slightly different rhythmn- I understand. It's a wonderful tune and song I learned it by listening to a Betty Smith album The liner notes I believe credited to the Jean Richie family. But its been a long time and the album was borrowed. A Child ballad also uses this tune but which I can't recall. Perhaps someone else will remind me. Thanks-Lorraine

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: alison
Date: 18 Feb 98 - 10:29 PM

Hi,

"The land where the shamrocks grow," (do a search through the threads from about december 97. another hymn is "O sing a song of Bethlehem."

For recordings of "Star of the County Down" try "The Chieftains with Van Morrison" CD. Roger Whittaker has done a nice version too.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Paul Stamler
Date: 19 Feb 98 - 01:59 AM

Hi Lorraine: "My Dearest Dear" is essentially the same song as "The Blackest Crow", as done by Bruce Molsky. Jim Nelson of the Ill-Mo Boys does a splendid version, too, under the title "As Time Draws Near". It's on the tape "Fine as Frog's Hair" (Marimac).

Peace. Paul

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Bruce O.
Date: 19 Feb 98 - 05:30 PM

I finally found a copy of "The Star of the County Down", in Daniel D. O'Keeffe's 'The First Book of Irish Ballads', p. 17, (1955) 4th ed., 1965. No music, or tune direction, or notes.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Bruce O.
Date: 19 Feb 98 - 06:29 PM

"My Dearest Dear" is in Sharp-Karples, #77. Text 'F' of "The True Lover's Farewell", #114, seems to me to be the same song. Fragmentary versions of "Blackest Crow" are at the end of those in Sharp-Karples, #114.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From:
Date: 19 Feb 98 - 06:31 PM

I have never heard The Banks of Newfoundland sung to this tune, although there are at least three different songs, with three completely different sets of lyrics, by that name of which I am aware. Perhaps this is another.

My favourite is by Chris Foster; there is another to a similar but slightly different tune and lyrics by A.L. Lloyd & Ewan McColl. (These are "Holystone" versions.) There was also a song done by the eastern Canadian group McGinty under that name but which might more properly be called Bound Down For Newfoundland, because that is what is repeated in the chorus. There is yet another which I saw in a songbook.

There is an Anglican hymn sung to the tune of the Star of The County Down. I don't have a hymnal in my possession and I keep forgetting to ask my brother-in-law which one it is. I think it is described only as An Old Irish Air or something of that sort. Maybe some of you more devout Anglicans/Episcopalians can assist here.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Dale Rose
Date: 19 Feb 98 - 08:57 PM

Easily my favorite recordings of The Star of the County Down are those by John McCormack. I have at least two on CD, (I didn't really check the LPs) one from 1936 on Pearl 9338, and from 1939 on Living Era 5119. In a recording career that started in 1904, I cannot imagine that he did not record it at some earlier time as well. If you are interested, Paul, I know that I got the Pearl at Webster Records, though it was several years ago.

The words that he sings are somewhat different than those in the DataBase.

Your mentioning the Bruce Molsky and Jim Nelson songs sent me scurrying for those recordings to listen to again as well!

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Dale Rose
Date: 19 Feb 98 - 09:39 PM

Well, I was wrong, his 1936 version taken from a radio broadcast was McCormack's first existing recording of the song, and the 1939 version was his only studio version. Here is a complete listing that I found at a site which has his complete discography from 1904-1942, including all live performances which are extant!

Star of the County Down, The (Traditional?/Old English Air, arr. Herbert Hughes)
broadcast (11 October 1936)
broadcast (27 December 1936)
broadcast (25 April 1938)
OEA 8322-1, -2 (30 November 1939)
broadcast (1940)
Note: Words and music possibly by Cathal Garvey, 1866-1927.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Feb 98 - 03:49 AM

I found that Anglican/Methodist hymn in Catholic and Baptist hymnals with the name "I Heard the Voice of Jesus." I posted the lyrics in another thread a while back. The Catholic hymnal identifies the tune as "Kingsfold," and says it is a traditional English (?) melody, arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams, with text by Horatius Bonar.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Paul Stamler
Date: 20 Feb 98 - 01:29 PM

The hymnal probably took its cue from Vaughan Williams, who found the tune used for "Dives and Lazarus", thereby giving it its other most-used name. Thanks, Dale, for the pointers to McCormack's recording; I'll start hunting. I'm hoping to put this all together as a radio show sometime in March. Perhaps for St. Pat's Day?

Peace. Paul

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From:
Date: 20 Feb 98 - 11:54 PM

But who sings this version of Banks of Newfoundland, of which you speak, to the tune of The Star of The County Down?

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From:
Date: 21 Feb 98 - 12:08 AM

Looked in the database and now I know of four different songs by the name of Banks of Newfoundland.:)

The one numbered "3" is pretty well the set of lyrics sung by Chris Foster. Version number 2 I have never seen or heard before. Version Number one is sung to the tune of Van Dieman's Land, which is said above to be the same tune as The Star Of The County Down. Now that I try singing it to that tune, I suppose you can make it fit. I must say that I have never heard it sung that way before, but to learn such things is why I check out this forum.:)

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: KickyC
Date: 22 Feb 98 - 09:08 PM

You can find the words and music to "The Star of the County Down" in Mel Bay Prsents "Songs of Ireland". I heard a friend play it once and looked and looked until I could find a copy. There are lots of other good songs in the book, too.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Rick O'Boyle
Date: 22 Feb 98 - 11:37 PM

Don't forget "The Fighting 69th". A song about the irish brigade in the American civil war. A good version can be found on the Wolfe Tones "Across the Broad Atlantic."

Slainte

Rick

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 11:34 AM

You can also find the words and music to Star of the County Down in the Digital Tradition database (that's the little blue box up in the right=hand corner)

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Dale Rose
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 12:48 PM

Right, Dick, I even mentioned that fact in my first post, though just in passing. Now if you could just build in a [That's already in the DT, dummy!!] warning for us, just before we say something stupid. . .

Oh, and Paul! Do remember to give the url a few days ahead of your show, so that all these good folk can listen to the show on KDHX. You might even set a record for internet connections that day!

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Paul Stamler
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 01:57 PM

The version of "Banks of Newfoundland" sung to "Star of the Co. Down" is on "Blow Boys Blow", a recording of sea shanties by Ewan MacColl and A. L. Lloyd, just reissued on Tradition.

Although it's a few weeks before I'll be broadcasting, I'll give out the URL now, since most of you will need to download the software; we use StreamWare instead of RealAudio (heaven knows why). The address is:

http://www.kdhxfm88.org

Click on "Live Show" and follow the pointers to download the software, then go back and click on "Live Show" again to listen. Incidentally, the station broadcasts several programs of folk, traditional and "roots" music; my program is on Thursday nights from 10pm-midnight, Central time (that's 0300 GMT). It's mostly trad..

Peace. Paul

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Dale Rose
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 04:55 PM

It has been a long time since I saw the front page at KDHX, and in Paul's defense, he probably has no use to go there either. At any rate I checked it out, and they have changed things around. Rather than Live Show, you click on Listen On-Line, then follow the directions. That makes more sense anyway. Apparently they have two ways to get there, because the URL he gave takes you to http://www.kdhxfm88.org/live.asp while the URL I use to listen is http://www.kdhxfm88.org/standard/live.stm which reads as he stated, and still works.

As far as Streamworks is concerned, in the beginning it was rather erratic and extremely low fi, but it has been improved, and the sound is not all that bad on my poor ol' PC which no longer has enough memory for Realaudio. As Paul says, the station has a lot of folk, traditional, and "roots" music, practically all of it good~~check out the program listings when you get there. There is something for everyone. I like(and certainly recommend), in no particular order, The Acoustic Edge, Country Function and Bluegrass Junction, Family Reunion, Ireland In America, Mid-Day Jamboree, The Bluegrass Show, and of course, No Time To Tarry Here!

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From:
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 06:54 PM

I've got that CD, Blow, Boys, Blow, and the version of Banks of Newfoundland on it doesn't sound at all like the tune to The Star of the County Down to me, unless there is another Star of the County Down.

The tune I know as The Star of the County Down is the one sung by Roger Whittaker, which is pretty much the one that Van Morrison did. Pub bands sing this tune all the time so the arrangement must be fairly common.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Paul Stamler
Date: 24 Feb 98 - 12:52 PM

Hmmm...I've never heard the Whittaker or Morrison recordings, so I don't know what tune they're singing. Is there someone else on the list who has, and is it different from the tune usually associated with this title?
Peace. Paul

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Jun 98 - 09:33 PM

Just picked up a tape by Dan Milner, (who wrote "Songs of England, Ireland & Scotland, a Bonnie Bunch of Roses" on it was an Irish version of Lily Of The West with Molly-O as the Lily, he sings it to the tune of "Star of the County Down". Another nice song, on the tape, which was the subject of a thread quite a while ago is the shanty Billy O'Shea (fall down Billy). Funny, ever since that thread (well over a year I think) I've been looking for this song, after reading Dan's notes, I find his original source was Seamus Walker of Dublin, who've I've been playing in sessions with for maybe 10-15 years. Next session I'll have to see if he remembers it, his recall is far better than mine. Barry

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Nora
Date: 24 Jun 98 - 12:59 AM

There's a fairly recent recording of "Star of the County Down" on an Oyster Band release. Anyone heard it? I haven't seen a copy around in a couple of years, but I think it was released in 1993 or so. It rocks out a little -- maybe too much for some of the purists around, but it's worth listening to if you like that sort of thing.

It's one of my favorite tunes to play -

Nora

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Hutch
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 09:29 AM

Hello, I too have been researching this piece. I have in my 78rpm collection an orininal of The Star of the County Down (HMV DA1718) which I have cleaned up a bit (tastefully!). If you still need a recording let me know and I'll see what we can arrange.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Philippa
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 09:44 AM

There was a song written to this tune in the 1960s about a fishing dispute at Lough Neagh (N Ireland). It was recorded by the Men (People?) of No Property.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: SeanM
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 01:47 PM

Another couple of versions come from the Irish Rovers (off of 'Gems'), and I believe that the Clancys have a version somewhere in their catalogue...

M

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 10:29 PM

Just heard almost the same melody tonight at a hymn sing, in the book as "O Come to Me, the Master Said," based on a traditional English melody.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From:
Date: 16 Mar 99 - 12:30 AM

My favorite version is by The Silver Darlings.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Bruce O.
Date: 16 Mar 99 - 12:51 AM

Barbara, several English and American Hymns and Carols use versions of the tune. I added members of the tune family cited by Bronson to those already in tune Family 3 at the end of the Irish tune title index on my website today. My list is still far from complete.

Subject: Lyr Add: CROOKED JACK
From: GUEST,Victoria
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 08:52 PM

CROOKED JACK

Come on Irish men, both young and old,
with adventure in your soul,
there are better ways to spend your days,
than by working down a hole...

(Chorus:) Tall and true, I was six foot two,
till they broke me across my back,
by a name I'm known that's not my own,
for they call me Crooked Jack.

Oh I curse the day I went away,
to work on those hydro dams,
all our sweat and tears, our hopes and fears
bound up with shuttering jams...
(chorus)

For I've seen men old before their day,
their faces old and gray,
but I never thought that I myself
would soon be the selfsame way....
(chorus)

Oh they say that honest toil is good
for the body and the soul,
but I tell you boys,
it's for sweat and blood,
that they want you down the hole....
(chorus)


(This was recorded by Seven Nations, and is Traditional, according to the liner notes)

Subject: Lonely Banna Strand
From: GUEST,Andrea Caporaso, Roma, Italy
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 01:12 AM

Dear Sirs, this morning i was listening to the wonderful song titled "Banna Strand". Unfortunately i have no lirics of it, and i like to get, cos i find this song really moving. If someone could help me, i'd really be happy. I can be reached at the following address: [e-mail] Thanx alot.

Subject: Lyr Add: BANNA STRAND
From: Stewie
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 02:05 AM

Here you go, Andrea. I got it from a rebel song site - I can't vouch for its accuracy because I don't have a recording to hand.

BANNA STRAND

Twas on Good Friday morning,
All in the month of May,
A German ship was signalling,
Beyond out in the Bay,
We had twenty thousand rifles
All ready for to land,
But no answering signal did come
From the lonely Banna Strand.

No signal answers from the shore,
Sir Roger sadly said,
No comrades here to meet me,
Alas, they must be dead,
But I must do my duty
And at once I mean to land,
So in a small boat rowed ashore
On the lovely Banna Strand

Now the R.I.C. were hunting
For Sir Roger high and low
They found him in McKenna's fort;
Said they: You are our foe,
Said he: I'm Roger Casement,
I came to my native land,
I mean to free my countrymen
On the lonely Banna Strand.

They took Sir Roger prisoner,
And sailed for London town,
And in the Tower they laid him,
A traitor to the Crown;
Said he, I am no traitor,
But his trial he had to stand,
For bringing German rifles
To the lonely Banna Strand.

'Twas in an English prison
That they led him to his death,
I'm dying for my country,
He said with his last breath,
They buried him in British soil
Far from his native land,
And the wild waves sing his requiem
On the lonely Banna Strand.

They took Sir Roger home again
In the year of '65,
And with his comrades of '16
In peace and tranquil lies,
His last fond wish, it is fulfilled
For to lie in his native land,
And the waves will roll in peace again
On the lonely Banna Strand

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: English Jon
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 04:29 AM

Roger Casement was a bloody idiot... but that's not really important.

Waterson's sing "Stormy winds" to a very early version of the tune. I think it's already in the Database. I'd be very interested to know what the earliest source for "Star of C.D." actually is... Any manuscripts with dates?

Cheers, Jon

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: PhantomNL
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 04:58 AM

The Dutch formation Rapalje has a nice version of The Star of the County Down, too. Listen to it at http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/64/rapalje.html

or visit their homepage at http://www.rapalje.com/

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: MartinRyan
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 05:02 AM

Jon

Bruce O will know. I've a vague memory its the English "Gilderoy" tune.

Regards

p.s. I'm not sure I see the Star in Banna Strand? Too tired to sort it out now.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: MudGuard
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 06:09 AM

I have an additional verse for Lonely Banna Strand. It goes between the first and second verse of the lyrics given above.

A motorcar was dashing through the early morning gloom
A sudden crush, and in the sea they went to meet their doom
Two Irish lads lay dying there just like their hopes so grand
They could not give the signal now on lonely Banna Strand.

MudGuard

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: English Jon
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 06:16 AM

Guilderoy is very old, Scots in origin, I believe? I see what you mean about the tune relationship. Therefore star of the c.d is also king of the fairies?

Teeheeheeheehee.

Jon

N.B. My Dad knows a version of Banner Strand that has quite a lot in common with Wind that Shakes the Barley. The Fenians did have some bloody good tunes.

Subject: Lyr Add: LONELY BANNA STRAND
From: Snuffy
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 09:55 AM

Mudguard's version was recorded in 1967 by the Grehan Sisters on their album On the Galtymore Mountains. I'll look up the sleeve notes tonight when I get home, but I believe the song dates from the 20's or 30's. The last verse was added in the 60's after Casement's body was exhumed (from Pentonville prison, I think) and returned to Ireland for a State Funeral.

I don't think the tune is related to SotCD, nor did our guest from Italy say it was. I suppose he just found this thread by chance and thought it'd be a good place to post a request for an Irish song. I'll see if I can knock up the tune that the grehans use and post it here

LONELY BANNA STRAND

Twas on Good Friday morning, all in the month of May,
A German ship was lying there, beyond there in the Bay,
With twenty thousand rifles all ready for to land,
But no answering signal came from the lonely Banna Strand.

A motorcar was dashing through the early morning gloom
A sudden crash, and in the sea they went to meet their doom
Two Irish lads lay dying there just like their hopes so grand
They could not give the signal now on lonely Banna Strand.

"No signal answers from the shore", Sir Roger sadly said,
"No comrades here to welcome me: alas, they must be dead,
But I must do my duty and so I mean to land,
So in a boat he pulled ashore on lonely Banna Strand.

The R.I.C. were hunting ror Sir Roger high and low.
They found him at McKenna's ford: Said they "You are our foe".
Said he, "I'm Roger Casement, I came to Ireland,
To try and free my countrymen on lonely Banna Strand."

They took Sir Roger prisoner, and they sailed for London town,
And in the Tower they named him a traitor to the Crown.
Said he, "I am no traitor", but his trial he had to stand,
For bringing German rifles to lonely Banna Strand.

'Twas in an English prison that they led him to his death,
"I'm dying for my country", he said with his last breath,
He's buried in a prison yard, far from his native land,
And the wild waves sing his requiem on the lonely Banna Strand.

They took Sir Roger home again in the year of '65,
And with his comrades of '16 in peace and tranquil lies.
His last fond wishes have been fulfilled: he's home in Ireland,
And the waves will roll in peace again on lonely Banna Strand

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Snuffy
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 10:08 AM

Oops,

I see Bruce O did say Lonely Banna Strand was sung to the SotCD tune. But the only two recordings I have heard used the same (different) tune that the Grehans did.

By the way, in the DT the midi of SotCD is a waltz, but I've always heard it played and sung in the UK and Ireland as a 4/4 or even 2/4. And all the printed music I have for it is 4/4 (Irish songbook, hymnal, etc). Which meter came first, and when and where did the change happen?

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Noreen
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 10:14 AM

Seems to be an American invention, Snuffy, to put the SOtCD into waltz time- 'twas a great shock to me when I heard the version in the DT! Would be interesting to know when it happened.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: GUEST,Bigchuck
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 12:45 PM

Whenever I've heard it done as a fiddle tune around here, I've always heard it as a waltz. It's a pretty common tune in the NE fiddler's repertoire. Sandy

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: GUEST,Ian M.
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 02:24 PM

The first time I heard this song it was sung by Ottilie Patterson with the Chris Barber Band in the mid fifties.

Ian M.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Noreen
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 02:54 PM

But Ian, was it in 3/4 or 4/4 time? :0)

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: GUEST,Ian M.
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 03:02 PM

4/4 Noreen. You rarely get jazz bands playing in 3/4.

Good Luck.

Ian M.

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: Noreen
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 03:20 PM

See, should have put my brain in gear first... bet that sounded good!

Noreen

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: GUEST,Gerry in Vancouver, BC
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 04:57 PM

Don't forget the whaler's forebitter "Rolling Down to Old Maui" (or maybe it's "Mauhee") also sung to the Star of C.D. tune. A darn good song too!

Subject: Tune Add: BANNA STRAND and LONELY BANNA STRAND
From: Snuffy
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 07:28 PM

Here's a couple of tunes to Banna Strand that are definitely NOT Star of the County Down. Note that one is in 3/4 time and the other in 4/4.

Banna Strand is taken from a book which gives the lyrics Stewie posted (but the book omits the modern last verse), while Lonely Banna Strand is the Grehan Sister's version that I posted.

BTW I made 2 mistakes in my version - in the last line of verse 6 delete "the", and in the 3rd line of verse 7 delete "fond".

  X: 35
  T:Banna Strand
  M:3/4
  L:1/4
  B:A Collection of Irish Ballads, Vol 1 (Tipperary Music)
  K:C
  G|
   F2E| C2D|(E2F)|G2(D/G)|F2E| C2C|C3-  |C2A|
  _B2A|_B2G| c2_B|G2E    |F2F|_B2A|G3-G2A   |
  _B2A|_B2G| c2_B|G2E    |F2F|_B2A|G3-G2E/G/|
   F2E| C2D|(E2F)|G2(E/G)|F2E| C2C|C3-  |C2 ||
  
  
  
  X: 36
  T:Lonely Banna Strand
  M:4/4
  L:1/4
  Q:75
  S:The Grehan Sisters
  D:On the Galtymore Mountains, 1967. Transatlantic TRA160
  K:C
  (F/G/)|
   FE CD|(EF) G2-|G3(E/G/)|F>E  CD|C3   (G/A/)|
  _BA GA|_BF _BA|G3-G2(G/A/)|
  _Bc GA|_B   FE CD|(E  

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Star of the County Down
From: John Moulden
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 11:24 AM

There is a reference above to the words of the Star of the County Down (as first published in Herbert Hughes' Irish Country Songs, vol 4(1936) having been possibly written by "Cathal Garvey 1866-1927"

According to Colm O'Lochlainn "Songwriters of Ireland in the English Tongue" The Star of the County Down was undoubtedly written by Cathal McGarvey 1866-1927, a native of Ramelton, Co Donegal who lived most of his life in Dublin.

McGarvey also wrote the Devil and Bailiff McGlynn.