Roisin Dubh means "little dark rose" in Irish (dubh is black, and roisin is the diminuitive form of rose)and is often used as a sort of poetic nickname for Ireland. So when he says, "So I say my farewell to a nation/As the leaf waves goodbye to it's son" he's literally saying goodbye to Ireland (and I suppose Ireland is metaphorically waving back).
Roisin Dubh means "little dark rose" in Irish (dubh is black, and roisin is the diminuitive form of rose)and is often used as a sort of poetic nickname for Ireland. So when he says, "So I say my farewell to a nation/As the leaf waves goodbye to it's son" he's literally saying goodbye to Ireland (and I suppose Ireland is metaphorically waving back).