School: Ballycastle Boys' (roll number 14290)

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1. Festivals - St Stephen's Day (continued)

   

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   Sometimes they carried a real live wren but for the most part the wren was artificial. At each house they repeated the following rhyme:-

   "The wren The wren the King of all birds
   St Stephens day was caught in the furze,
   Although he is small his family is great.
   Rise up landlady and give us with grace,
   Up with the Kettle and down with the pan,
   Give us our answer and let us begone,
   All silver no brass
   Here's the place to lay the cash,"

   They carried a little rough tray and presented it for the money. When they had all calls made they divided they money equally. This they kept as pocket money. In these advanced days we see young men in motor cars usurping the children's rights but in the times past these the young men kicked football and had hurling games weight throwing etc. Then also in the evenings the young maidens invited the girls and boy friends (with

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
         1. Feast of St Stephen (~402)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   John Lenihan

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Ballycastle, Co. Mayo

   Informant

   Mrs Polke

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Ballinglen, Co. Mayo