THE  ROADS  OF  KILDARE

Time signature:  3/4      Typical tempo: ~ 170 bpm.                                                      
Traditional Irish?
Accordion Notation
This tune can be played as a waltz (in 3/4 time, with three beats per waltz bar) or (perhaps) as a jig (in 6/8 time).   I prefer it in waltz time, and have so arranged it here:
Beats per bar = 3
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent

​Either row (low):  Buttons 3 - 6
Verse 1 (of 3)

|  ;3    "3*    .3   |    .3    .4   .5   |   .:5*  |   .:5    |   
John - ny   was    born  in   the    man  -  sion  

   .4     .5   .4   |   .3*     .3   .3*  |  .:3~  |  ~.:  |
Down  in  the    count - y    of       Clare.

 ;3   "3*   .3   |    .3    .4   .5   |  .:5*   |   .:6    |
Ro - sie  was   born  by  the    road  -  side   

    .6       .6*    .5*   |     .5     .4     .3   |  .:3*~  |  ~.:   |
Some-where   in      Count - y     Kil  -  dare.

  
  ;3   "3*   .3  |     .3         .4     .5   |  .:5*   |  :5    | 
Des - ti - ny     brought them   to  -  geth -   er  

 "6   "6   |   .6      .6*  .5*  |   .5       .4     .3   |  .:3*~  |  ~: 
On   the    road    to   Kil  -  lorg -  lan   one    day.

"4   "3*  |    :3     "3*  "3   |   .3       .4    .5    |   .:5*    |  :5 
 In  her     bright  tas - ty    shawl  she  was     sing  -  ing, 

  "4    "4    |    :5   .4   |      .3*      .3      .3* |   .:3   | 
And  she     stole  his     young  heart    a  -  way.


Chorus:    |   .2    .3*   .2*   | 
                (For  she  said:)

|  ;3    "3*   .3   |   .3     .4    .5   |   .:5*  |   .:5    |
Meet  me   to  -  night  by  the     camp -  fire,  

   .4       .5    .4   |   .3*   .3   .3*  |  .:3~  |  ~.:  |
Come with  me       o -  ver the      hill.

 ;3   "3*  .3   |   .3      .4     .5   |  .:5*   |  .:6    |
Let  us   be     mar - ried    to  -  mor  -  row; 

   .6      .6*   .5*  |    .5     .4     .3   |  .:3*~  |  ~.:   |
Please let   me    whis - per    'I       will'.


  :3    "3*  "3   |   .3        .4       .5   |  .:5*   |  :5   
What  if    the    neigh - bours  are    talk  -  ing?  

  .6   |    .6     .6*   .5*  |     .5       .4     .3    |  .:3*~  |  ~:
Who   cares   if   your   friends stop  and     stare?

  "4     "3*  |    ;3     "3*   .3   |   .3     .4     .5    |   .:5*   |  :5 
You'll  be      proud   to   be     mar - ried   to        Ros  -  ie, 
 
  "4     "4    |    :5     "4   "4   |    .3*    .3    .3*  |  .:3~  | ~.:   |
Who  was    reared on   the    roads  of    Kil  -   dare.

EMBEDDED youTube VIDEOS

Seven videos in keys of:     B,C=1    C=1    C,D=1     D=3     D,Eb=1
​
Key: D from time 0 to 2:40
        Eb from 2:40 to 4:12 (end)

Tempo ~ 150 bpm.

Singer:  Daniel O'Donnell

Posted by:  MsJacky1968

He sings first two verses & choruses in D, and then ramps it up by a semi-tone to Eb for remaining verse and chorus.   Such modulation is common in Irish folk music.
Key:  D

Tempo:  ~ 175 bpm

Singer:  Bernie Sheaves

Posted by:  NL Treasure
Key:  D

Tempo: ~ 180 bpm

Played by:  Not sure who

Posted by: labradornl
Key:  C

Tempo:   ~ 175 bpm

Singer: Richard Woodrow
 Key:  C  from time 0 to 2:30
​          D frp, 2:30 to 4:25 (end)

Tempo:  ~ 170 bpm

Singer:  Jim Finnegan

Posted by:  mihaireal

​He sings first two verses & choruses in C and then ramps it up by a semi-tone to Db for remaining verse and chorus (repeated).  Such modulation is common in Irish folk music.
Key: B  from time 0 to 2:30
        C from  2:30 to  4:34 (end)
​         
Tempo:  ~ 170 bpm

Singers: Brian Coll

He sings first two verses & choruses in B, and then ramps it up by a semi-tone to C for remaining verse and chorus (repeated).  Such modulation is common in Irish folk music.
Key:   A  from time 0 to  2:25
​          Bb  from 2:25 to  4:27  (end)

Tempo: ~ 175 bpm

Singers:   Mary G & Shamrock

Posted on the Mary G & Shamrock youTube channel.

They sing first two verses & choruses in A, and then ramps it up by a semi-tone to Bb for remaining verse and chorus (repeated). Such modulation is common in Irish folk music.

Remaining Lyrics: 

Verse 2




Verse 3
Think of the parents who reared you, Think of the family name.
How can you marry a gypsy?  Oh what a terrible shame!
Parents and friends stop your pleading, Don't worry about my affair,
For I've fallen in love with a gypsy, Who was reared on the roads of Kildare.

Johnny went down from his mansion, Just as the sun had gone down,
Turning his back on his kinfolk, Likewise his dear native town.
Facing the roads of old Ireland, With a gypsy he loved so sincere,
When he came to the light of the campfire, These are the words he did hear:

Composer
I'm not sure who the composer is.  Some sources attribute it to a John Duggan, while others merely call it "Traditional Irish".