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School: Kilmurry

Location:
Kilmurry, Co. Offaly
Teacher:
A. de Búrca
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0803, Page 256

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0803, Page 256

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  3. XML “Festival Customs”
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  5. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. Festival Customs (continued)

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  2. Festival Customs

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    People go around with the wren New Year's Day and New Year's Eve. The say that if you cry on New Year's Day that you would cry every day of that year.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit

  3. Festival Customs

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    On St Stephens Day boys go round with the wren. They dress up in clothes and put vizards on their faces. Some of them travel on foot and more of them travel on bicycles. They travel about eight miles around the district. The go into the houses and sing and dance and play music. Then they get money from the people of the house. The most they get is half a crown. When they go into the houses they sing a verse of a song together and it is:-
    "The wren, the wren, the king of all birds;
    St. Stephen's Day, she was caught in the fruze.
    Altho' she was little her family was great,
    Rise up, Oh! lady and give us a treat.
    As I was on the castle wall
    I met the wren upon the wall
    I up with a stick and I gave her a fall
    The wren was blind, and couldn't see.
    I took her home on a holly tree
    Money we want, and money we crave
    If we don't get money we'll go to the grave
    Up with the kettle and down with the pan
    Give us a penny to bury the wren
    [Above]
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit