School: Keeny

Location:
Keeny, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
E. Ó Cléirigh
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0972, Page 498

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0972, Page 498

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  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. It is a very old custom in Ireland that when |st. Stephen's Day arrives the wren boys go round from house to house asking money, to bury the wren. They dress up in old clothes, false facse on their faces and sticks in their hands. They go to the houses dancing, singing and cheering.
    The dance until they get money and the rhyme they have is this.
    "The wren, the wren the king of all birds."
    "On St. Stephen's day she was caught in the furze".
    "Although she is small her family is great.
    Rise up ladies and give us a treat.
    Money we want money we will get.
    If we do not get money we will bury the wren
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Susan Mc Elroy
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Drumbrawn, Co. Cavan