School: Arklow (B.)
- Location:
- Arklow, Co. Wicklow
- Teacher: Gearóid Inglis
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0924, Page 40
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- (continued from previous page)attached, but a head of a herring is attached instead. The boys collect money of pieces of Christmas Dainties which they share. They go in pairs and wear no dress or mask, They repeat a rhyme about the wren which is
"The wren, the wren, the king of all birds St Stephen's Day we'll hunt the furze.
As I went up a gutting gap
I saw a ram upon a shack (sceac)
I up with a shock, an' gave him a pull
An' this is the ram that visits you all,
Mistress, mister, we come here
Looking for some of your good cheer
If ye give us some of the best
The Lord in heaven your soul may rest
If ye give us some of the small
The devil take butter bowl sugar an' all
I met a lady on the strand
With a lily white cup an' glass in her hand(continues on next page)
