School: Glencairn (roll number 1179)
- Location:
- Glencairn, Co. Waterford
- Teacher: Eibhlín Ní Dhuibhir
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0638, Page 19
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- The custom of the wren-boys is still held in this district. The day after Xmas Day the boys of the district dress up in colourful garments. They dress the holly bush with multi-coloured ribbons and with masks donned to disguise themselves, they proceed from house to house looking for something to "bury the wren". They stop at each house and sing :-The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
On Stephens day got caught in the furze
Although he be little his family is great
Rise up landlady and give us a treat.
This is the wren that you may see
High perched upon a holly tree
A bunch of ribbons by his side
And one of our boys to be his guide
We hunted him up and we hunted him down
Till one of our wren boys knocked him down
Mrs. is a worthy woman
And to her house we're always coming
Up with the kettle and down with the pan(continues on next page)
- Informant
- Mrs O' Neill
- Relation
- Unknown
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 58
- Address
- Glencairn, Co. Waterford
