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School: Killyconnan (B.)

Location:
Killyconnan, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
P. Kearney
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0979, Page 099

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0979, Page 099

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  1. XML School: Killyconnan (B.)
  2. XML Page 099
  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. Festival Customs

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    On St. Stephen's Day boys and grown-up men gather together. They get a little box into which they place a few feathers pretending that they have a wren in the box. They then go round from house to house saying the following rhyme:-
    The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
    On St Stephen's Day she was caught in her furze
    Although she is little her honour is great,
    Rise up landlady and give us a treat
    Monty we want and money we crave
    If we don't get the money we'll soon make the grave
    Up with the kettle and own with the pan
    A penny or towpence or bury the wren.
    At each house they generally get money. If they got no money they would bury the "wren". It is thought unlucky to have a wren buried near the door. When the grown-ups get
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Andrew Smith
    Gender
    Male
    Informant
    Mr Patrick Smith
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    60
    Address
    Knockanoark, Co. Cavan