I roved out one morn
In old Kilarney
To see if any were alone as me
She stood by the grove
Where the heather grew.
I smiled with courage
She said, "Come here, do."

Her eyes they twinkled
Like the brightest star,
To guide my way
Through the dirges of dark.
She was truly The Rose
of Old Kilarney.
Our love was as strong
As the greatest oak tree.

We talked of days past
When Erin was grand
From Dublin to Cork,
Throughout the land.
My hand held hers,
As she held mine,
When, at that moment,
Our souls were entwined.

We were married that spring
My Katy and I
We tenderly kissed
As tears filled our eyes.
She showed me worlds
I’d never seen.
My Katy, my love,
My Irish Queen.

We danced together
In the summer of life,
As tears of sweet joy
My heart did cry.
We embraced so tenderly
By the heather grove.
‘Twas nowhere on earth
That our love would not go.

She lived until winter
Then, she left me.
‘Twas the coldest time
My life has ever seen.
The chapel was crowded
When her mass was said.
I had the saddest heart
And the cloudiest head.

The green of the heather
Has now turned gray.
My Katy is free
But here I must stay.
My heart, it weeps,
For days of yore.
Please let her awake.
Whom I adore.

Her eyes they twinkled,
Like the brightest star,
To guide my way
Through the dirges of dark.
She was truly The Rose
Of Old Kilarney.
Our love was as strong
As the greatest oak tree.