School: Balrath (roll number 9770)
- Location:
- Balrath, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: Bean Uí Oirghiall
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0738, Page 023
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- St Stephen's Day. On this day the Wren boys go out in parties. They borrow or steal clothes to disguise themselves and wear vizards or lace over their faces. Some are dressed like women.
Several bands of them come to the door and sing and dance. One boy has a box supposed to hold a dead wren. They say this rhyme.
The wren the wren
the king of all birds
St Stephen's Day was caught
in a furze.
Up with the kettle and
down with the pan.
Give us some money to
bury the wren.
In the evening they divide the money and very often spend it in a public house.(continues on next page)
