There’s a home by the hills of Glendore,
Oh that lies near the broad open sea,
Where the wild rushes rush through the foam,
And the bull rushes wave in the breeze.
Where the green ivy clings o’er the door
And the bird sweetly tunes on each tree,
To my love sure their notes do repose,
Agus Éireann ní neosfainn cé hí.

One day as the sun was aglow,
Oh and sank into its rest.
And the clouds like mountains of snow
As they decline on the west.
To be out and to see my own stór,
How kindly she waited for me
By the old steps by lovely Glandore,
Agus Éireann ní neosfainn cé hí.

Her father has riches in store,
Oh both cattle, some corn and wealth,
And prime lands by lovely Glendore,
Whilst I have youth and good health.
For she be the fond maid I adore,
For her loving to me she proves true.
My old corn on no earthly store,
Agus Éireann ní neosfainn cé hí.

Like a sick man I long for the dawn,
Oh, I long for the light of her smile.
And a kiss from my own cailín bán,
Whilst waiting for her by the stile.
I’ll climb the highest hill in the land,
Oh I’ll swim o’er depths of the sea,
To get a kiss from her lily-white hand
Agus Éireann ní neosfainn cé hí.

If there be any mistake ‘tween us both,
Now between us, her loved parents and me,
In some steamer that now sure shall float.
We’ll sail to some strange country.
Where we’ll have a house of our own,
Oh, and be at our own liberty,
Sure it’s then sure her name shall be known
Agus Éireann ní neosfainn cé hí.

"In Tom Munnelly’s collection of Tom Lenihan’s songs 'Mount Callan Garland' this is sung as 'There’s a Home by the Great Avonmore' and the Irish 'Ar Éireann ní neosfainn cé hÍ' (For Ireland I’ll not tell who she is) is given as a title. Tom Munnelly’s note reads:

'Known in Scotland as "Tweedside", this beautiful air is said to have been written by David Rizzio (or Riccio), musician and secretary to Mary Queen of Scots. His affection for the Queen was manifest and the amount of time he spent in her private chamber the source of much speculation. On March 9th 1566 the unfortunate Italian was dragged from the pregnant Queen's side and butchered before her eyes by a number of dagger strokes.'

He attributes this conclusion to Irish dance music scholar Breandán Breathnach ('Folkmusic and Dances of Ireland', Educational Co. of Ireland, Dublin, 1971.)"
Jim Carroll

See also
The Hills of Glendore sung by Tom Lenihan