School: Cnoc, Abbeyleix (roll number 2324)
- Location:
- Knockardagur, Co. Laois
- Teacher: Seán Ó Huallacháin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0831, Page 177
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- XML “Festival Customs”
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- St. Stephen's day is a great feast day. It comes after Christmas. School boys dress up in old clothes, and put vizards on their faces, and they go from one house to another. They have a holly bush decorated with coloured ribbons. The wren is killed and is put into the holly bush. When they go to the door they sing and ask for money. They have mouth organs and they play on them and they sing the song of the wren
"The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
St. Stephen's day she was caught in the furze
Although she was little her family was great
Rise up our land-Lady and give us a treat.
Up with the kettle and down with the pan
Give us a feed and some money and then we'll go on"
They divide the money evenly among each other on St. Stephens night. They spend it in the shops.St. Bridget's Night
About ten young men dess up in old clothes They put vineyards on their faces. They are called the "Breedogues." They go from house to house. They come about eight o' clock. When they come to the door they say "Are the Breedogues welcome"?(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Bridget Fitzgearld
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Boleybeg, Co. Laois
- Informant
- Mr P. Cullen
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Boleybeg, Co. Laois
