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School: Colthurst, An Bhlárna (roll number 6717)

Location:
Blarney, Co. Cork
Teacher:
S. Ó Laoghaire
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0349, Page 221

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0349, Page 221

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  1. XML School: Colthurst, An Bhlárna
  2. XML Page 221
  3. XML “St Stephen's Day”

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  1. St Stephen's Day (continued)

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    (continued from previous page)
    On that day long ago the boys would go around with the wren. The wren would be hunted on Christmas Day and hung up on a holly bush decorated with ribbons. The boys would disguise themselves by rubbing soot to their faces and turning their caps and coats inside - out.
    Then they would go around to every house singing a song and gathering money. The song they sang was,
    "The wren, the wren the king of all birds,
    Christmas Day he was caught in the furze.
    From bush to bush to tree to tree,
    On Blarney Castle he broke his knee.
    The wren the wren that you may see,
    Neatly dressed
    (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)
        1. Feast of St Stephen (~402)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Michael Murphy
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Blarney, Co. Cork
    Informant
    Mr M. Murphy
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    80
    Address
    Blarney, Co. Cork