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School: Gráig na Muilte Iarainn

Location:
Woodford, Co. Galway
Teacher:
Tomás T. Ó Muirgheasa
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0050, Page 0487

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0050, Page 0487

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  1. XML School: Gráig na Muilte Iarainn
  2. XML Page 0487
  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. Festival Customs

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    Festival Customs
    In Woodford festival customs are observed greatly.
    On St. Stephen's Day boys and men go out in the wren. The boys join together and two boys are picked to be the clowns. They dress up the clowns with masks and old clothes so that nobody would know them. Then they go from house to house playing musical instruments and singing the wren song. The wren song goes as follows:-
    "The wren, the wren, the king of all birds, St. Stephen's Day he was caught in the furze, up with the kettle and down with the pan, give us our money and let us be gone". The boys get money in every house. When they are finished they count the money and divide it equally. The big men also go out in the wren. Any money they get they usually hold a dance with it.
    On Shrove Tuesday the people make
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    John Shiel
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Woodford, Co. Galway