The Rose Of Castlerea Lyrics And Chords
See the link below for the sheet music. The Rose Of Castlerea Lyrics And Chords. Brendan Shine plays this song
in the key of F. As most people don't play in that key I have transposed it to
the key of D. The key change near the end of the song is optional.
Have a listed to Brendan Shine singing Catch Me If You Can which is the song he became
renown for. See the ebook below for the sheet music / tin whistle notes.
in the key of F. As most people don't play in that key I have transposed it to
the key of D. The key change near the end of the song is optional.
Have a listed to Brendan Shine singing Catch Me If You Can which is the song he became
renown for. See the ebook below for the sheet music / tin whistle notes.
[D]Oh, the lambs were playing in the field
And the [A]tulips were in flower
[D]When I left the home [G]I love so well
I can never forget the [D]hour
Be[A]fore me were [D]Atlantic’s waves
To a home in Tennes[A]see
Sure I left behind me the [G]girl I loved
The rose of Castel[D]rea
CHORUS
[D]She may not have been a beauty queen
She might never be a [A]rose
But to me she is [G]the fairest flower
That [D]in the garden grows
[A]Although I’m in A[D]mericay
Across the Atlantic [A]Sea
Sure I always love my [G]Roscommon girl
She’s the rose of Castel[D]rea
[D]It’s many the night that I lie in bed
Me thoughts upon thee [A]go
To the lovely days when I [G]walk me love
On the [D]road out by Knockroe
Her [A]smiling face, her [D]shining hair
Was a joy for all to [A]see
’twas a cruel day I [G]went away
From [A]you and Castel[D]rea
Chorus
[D]I opened up the Roscommon Herald
I just received to[A]day
For to read about [G]my native town
And my [D]friends so far away
But [A]the tears began to [D]blind me
As I glanced across page [A]three
Had a photo of her [G]wedding day
Was the [A]rose of Castle[D]rea
Chorus
Change key here if you want.
[B]Fare[E]well to you, [A]Roscommon
From [E]Cloonad to the Shannon [B]shore
Farewell to Boyle and [A]Frenchpark
I’ll [E]never see you no more
For the [B]cotton’s field near [E]Memphis
Must remain home to [B]me
Sure I’ll [E]always love my Ros[A]common girl
She’s the [E]rose of Castelrea
Chorus
And the [A]tulips were in flower
[D]When I left the home [G]I love so well
I can never forget the [D]hour
Be[A]fore me were [D]Atlantic’s waves
To a home in Tennes[A]see
Sure I left behind me the [G]girl I loved
The rose of Castel[D]rea
CHORUS
[D]She may not have been a beauty queen
She might never be a [A]rose
But to me she is [G]the fairest flower
That [D]in the garden grows
[A]Although I’m in A[D]mericay
Across the Atlantic [A]Sea
Sure I always love my [G]Roscommon girl
She’s the rose of Castel[D]rea
[D]It’s many the night that I lie in bed
Me thoughts upon thee [A]go
To the lovely days when I [G]walk me love
On the [D]road out by Knockroe
Her [A]smiling face, her [D]shining hair
Was a joy for all to [A]see
’twas a cruel day I [G]went away
From [A]you and Castel[D]rea
Chorus
[D]I opened up the Roscommon Herald
I just received to[A]day
For to read about [G]my native town
And my [D]friends so far away
But [A]the tears began to [D]blind me
As I glanced across page [A]three
Had a photo of her [G]wedding day
Was the [A]rose of Castle[D]rea
Chorus
Change key here if you want.
[B]Fare[E]well to you, [A]Roscommon
From [E]Cloonad to the Shannon [B]shore
Farewell to Boyle and [A]Frenchpark
I’ll [E]never see you no more
For the [B]cotton’s field near [E]Memphis
Must remain home to [B]me
Sure I’ll [E]always love my Ros[A]common girl
She’s the [E]rose of Castelrea
Chorus
🎸 “The Rose of Castlerea” – Guitar Arrangement
Time: 3/4 Tempo: ~75 BPM
Strumming Pattern: ↓ ↓↑ ↓ (Down – Down-Up – Down)
Use a soft, sweeping motion to keep the ballad feel — emphasize the first beat.
🪕 Verse 1
[D]Oh, the lambs were playing in the field
And the [A]tulips were in flower
e|--------2-----------|--------0-----------|--------0-----------|
B|------3---3---------|------2---2---------|------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|--2-----------------|
A|--------------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
[D]When I left the home [G]I love so well
I can never forget the [D]hour
e|--------2-----------|--------3-----------|--------2-----------|
B|------3---3---------|------0---0---------|------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----0-------0-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--------------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|
E|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
Be[A]fore me were [D]Atlantic’s waves
To a home in Tennes[A]see
e|--------0-----------|--------2-----------|--------0-----------|
B|------2---2---------|------3---3---------|------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------|--------------------|--0-----------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
Sure I left behind me the [G]girl I loved
The rose of Castel[D]rea
e|--------3-----------|--------2-----------|--------2-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------3---3---------|------3---3---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
🎶 Chorus
[D]She may not have been a beauty queen
She might never be a [A]rose
e|--------2-----------|--------0-----------|--------0-----------|
B|------3---3---------|------2---2---------|------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|--2-----------------|
A|--------------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
But to me she is [G]the fairest flower
That [D]in the garden grows
e|--------3-----------|--------2-----------|--------2-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------3---3---------|------3---3---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
[A]Although I’m in A[D]mericay
Across the Atlantic [A]Sea
e|--------0-----------|--------2-----------|--------0-----------|
B|------2---2---------|------3---3---------|------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------|--------------------|--0-----------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
Sure I always love my [G]Roscommon girl
She’s the rose of Castel[D]rea
e|--------3-----------|--------2-----------|--------2-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------3---3---------|------3---3---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
💡 Playing Tips
Fingerpicking (3/4 waltz pattern):
Use P–I–M–I–A–M pattern per measure.
Thumb plays the root/bass note (E/A/D strings).
Fingers pick G–B–E strings softly, creating a “rolling” feel.
Strumming:
For a gentle accompaniment:
↓ ↓↑ ↓ → emphasize the first downstroke of each bar.
Feel:
Slow, wistful, and heartfelt — like an Irish emigrant ballad at sea.
Ending:
Let the final D chord ring out fully for 2–3 measures.
Time: 3/4 Tempo: ~75 BPM
Strumming Pattern: ↓ ↓↑ ↓ (Down – Down-Up – Down)
Use a soft, sweeping motion to keep the ballad feel — emphasize the first beat.
🪕 Verse 1
[D]Oh, the lambs were playing in the field
And the [A]tulips were in flower
e|--------2-----------|--------0-----------|--------0-----------|
B|------3---3---------|------2---2---------|------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|--2-----------------|
A|--------------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
[D]When I left the home [G]I love so well
I can never forget the [D]hour
e|--------2-----------|--------3-----------|--------2-----------|
B|------3---3---------|------0---0---------|------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----0-------0-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--------------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|
E|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
Be[A]fore me were [D]Atlantic’s waves
To a home in Tennes[A]see
e|--------0-----------|--------2-----------|--------0-----------|
B|------2---2---------|------3---3---------|------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------|--------------------|--0-----------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
Sure I left behind me the [G]girl I loved
The rose of Castel[D]rea
e|--------3-----------|--------2-----------|--------2-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------3---3---------|------3---3---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
🎶 Chorus
[D]She may not have been a beauty queen
She might never be a [A]rose
e|--------2-----------|--------0-----------|--------0-----------|
B|------3---3---------|------2---2---------|------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|--2-----------------|
A|--------------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
But to me she is [G]the fairest flower
That [D]in the garden grows
e|--------3-----------|--------2-----------|--------2-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------3---3---------|------3---3---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
[A]Although I’m in A[D]mericay
Across the Atlantic [A]Sea
e|--------0-----------|--------2-----------|--------0-----------|
B|------2---2---------|------3---3---------|------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------|--------------------|--0-----------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
Sure I always love my [G]Roscommon girl
She’s the rose of Castel[D]rea
e|--------3-----------|--------2-----------|--------2-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------3---3---------|------3---3---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----2-------2-------|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
💡 Playing Tips
Fingerpicking (3/4 waltz pattern):
Use P–I–M–I–A–M pattern per measure.
Thumb plays the root/bass note (E/A/D strings).
Fingers pick G–B–E strings softly, creating a “rolling” feel.
Strumming:
For a gentle accompaniment:
↓ ↓↑ ↓ → emphasize the first downstroke of each bar.
Feel:
Slow, wistful, and heartfelt — like an Irish emigrant ballad at sea.
Ending:
Let the final D chord ring out fully for 2–3 measures.
Capo 3 for original key F- Brendan shine version
[D] [G] [D] [A] [D]
Oh, the [D]lambs were playing [G]in the field
And the [D]tulips were in [A]flower
When I [D]left the home that I [G]love so well
I can [D]never for[A]get the [D]hour
Be[A]fore me was the At[G]lantic’s [D]waves
To a home in Tennes[A]see
And I [D]left behind me the [G]girl I loved
She's the [D]Rose of [A]Castel[D]rea
CHORUS
She may [D]not have been a [G]beauty queen
She might [D]never be a [A]rose
But to [D]me she is the [G]fairest flower
That [D]in the [A]garden [D]grows
And al[A]though I’m in A[G]meri[D]ca
Across the Atlantic [A]Sea
Sure I'll [D]always love my Ros[G]common girl
She’s the [D]Rose of [A]Castel[D]rea
It’s [D]many the night that I [G]lie in bed
That my [D]thoughts would from me [A]go
To the [D]lovely days when I [G]walked my love
On the [D]road out [A]by Knock[D]roe
Her [A]smiling face, her [G]shining [D]hair
Was a joy for all to [A]see
’Twas a [D]cruel day that I [G]went away
From [D]you and [A]Castel[D]rea
CHORUS
She may [D]not have been a [G]beauty queen
She might [D]never be a [A]rose
But to [D]me she is the [G]fairest flower
That [D]in the [A]garden [D]grows
And al[A]though I’m in A[G]meri[D]ca
Across the Atlantic [A]Sea
Sure I'll [D]always love my Ros[G]common girl
She’s the [D]Rose of [A]Castel[D]rea
[D] [G] [D] [A] [D]
I opened [D]up the Roscommon [G]Herald
That I [D]just received to[A]day
For to [D]read about my [G]native town
And my [D]friends so [A]far a[D]way
But the [A]tears began to [G]blind me
[D]As I glanced across page [A]three
Had a [D]picture on her [G]wedding day
of the [D]Rose of [A]Castle[D]rea (KEY[B7] CHANGE)
Fare[E]well to you, Ros[A]common
From Cloon[E]fad to the Shannon [B]shore
Fare[E]well to Boyle and [A]Frenchpark
I’ll [E]never [B]see you [E]more
For the [B]cotton fields near [A]Mem[E]phis
Must remain home to [B]me
But I’ll [E]always love my Ros[A]common girl
She’s the [E]Rose of [B]Castel[E]rea
CHORUS
She may [E]not have been a [A]beauty queen
She might [E]never be a [B]rose
But to [E]me she is the [A]fairest flower
That [E]in the [B]garden [E]grows
And al[B]though I’m in A[A]meri[E]ca
Across the Atlantic [B]Sea
Sure I'll [E]always love my Ros[A]common girl
She’s the [E]Rose of [B]Castel[E]rea
Sure I'll [E]always love my Ros[A]common girl
She’s the [E]Rose of [B]Castel[E]rea
[E] [A] [E] [B] [E]
[D] [G] [D] [A] [D]
Oh, the [D]lambs were playing [G]in the field
And the [D]tulips were in [A]flower
When I [D]left the home that I [G]love so well
I can [D]never for[A]get the [D]hour
Be[A]fore me was the At[G]lantic’s [D]waves
To a home in Tennes[A]see
And I [D]left behind me the [G]girl I loved
She's the [D]Rose of [A]Castel[D]rea
CHORUS
She may [D]not have been a [G]beauty queen
She might [D]never be a [A]rose
But to [D]me she is the [G]fairest flower
That [D]in the [A]garden [D]grows
And al[A]though I’m in A[G]meri[D]ca
Across the Atlantic [A]Sea
Sure I'll [D]always love my Ros[G]common girl
She’s the [D]Rose of [A]Castel[D]rea
It’s [D]many the night that I [G]lie in bed
That my [D]thoughts would from me [A]go
To the [D]lovely days when I [G]walked my love
On the [D]road out [A]by Knock[D]roe
Her [A]smiling face, her [G]shining [D]hair
Was a joy for all to [A]see
’Twas a [D]cruel day that I [G]went away
From [D]you and [A]Castel[D]rea
CHORUS
She may [D]not have been a [G]beauty queen
She might [D]never be a [A]rose
But to [D]me she is the [G]fairest flower
That [D]in the [A]garden [D]grows
And al[A]though I’m in A[G]meri[D]ca
Across the Atlantic [A]Sea
Sure I'll [D]always love my Ros[G]common girl
She’s the [D]Rose of [A]Castel[D]rea
[D] [G] [D] [A] [D]
I opened [D]up the Roscommon [G]Herald
That I [D]just received to[A]day
For to [D]read about my [G]native town
And my [D]friends so [A]far a[D]way
But the [A]tears began to [G]blind me
[D]As I glanced across page [A]three
Had a [D]picture on her [G]wedding day
of the [D]Rose of [A]Castle[D]rea (KEY[B7] CHANGE)
Fare[E]well to you, Ros[A]common
From Cloon[E]fad to the Shannon [B]shore
Fare[E]well to Boyle and [A]Frenchpark
I’ll [E]never [B]see you [E]more
For the [B]cotton fields near [A]Mem[E]phis
Must remain home to [B]me
But I’ll [E]always love my Ros[A]common girl
She’s the [E]Rose of [B]Castel[E]rea
CHORUS
She may [E]not have been a [A]beauty queen
She might [E]never be a [B]rose
But to [E]me she is the [A]fairest flower
That [E]in the [B]garden [E]grows
And al[B]though I’m in A[A]meri[E]ca
Across the Atlantic [B]Sea
Sure I'll [E]always love my Ros[A]common girl
She’s the [E]Rose of [B]Castel[E]rea
Sure I'll [E]always love my Ros[A]common girl
She’s the [E]Rose of [B]Castel[E]rea
[E] [A] [E] [B] [E]
Alternative chords in the key of G
[G]Oh, the lambs were playing in the field
And the [D]tulips were in flower
[G]When I left the home [C]I love so well
I can never forget the [G]hour
Be[D]fore me were [G]Atlantic’s waves
To a home in Tennes[D]see
Sure I left behind me the [C]girl I loved
The rose of Castel[G]rea
CHORUS
[G]She may not have been a beauty queen
She might never be a [D]rose
But to me she is [C]the fairest flower
That [G]in the garden grows
[D]Although I’m in A[G]mericay
Across the Atlantic [D]Sea
Sure I always love my [C]Roscommon girl
She’s the rose of Castel[G]rea
[G]Oh, the lambs were playing in the field
And the [D]tulips were in flower
[G]When I left the home [C]I love so well
I can never forget the [G]hour
Be[D]fore me were [G]Atlantic’s waves
To a home in Tennes[D]see
Sure I left behind me the [C]girl I loved
The rose of Castel[G]rea
CHORUS
[G]She may not have been a beauty queen
She might never be a [D]rose
But to me she is [C]the fairest flower
That [G]in the garden grows
[D]Although I’m in A[G]mericay
Across the Atlantic [D]Sea
Sure I always love my [C]Roscommon girl
She’s the rose of Castel[G]rea
The Rose Of Castlerea Sheet Music / Tin Whistle Notes Are In The Ebooks Below
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 1,000 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
