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School: Kiffa

Location:
Kiffagh, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
Helen Dinneen
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0993, Page 111

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0993, Page 111

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  1. XML School: Kiffa
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  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. Festival Customs

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    On St. Stephen's Day boys, and in some places grown-up men, gather together and go in procession from house to house singing the Wren song:
    "The wren the wren the king of
    all birds
    On St. Stephen's Day she was
    caught on the furze
    Although she is small her
    family is great
    Rise up landlady and give us a
    treat
    Money we want and money we
    crave
    If you don't give us money will
    open the grave
    Up with the skillet and down with
    the pan
    If you don't give no money will
    bury the wran".
    They go around from house to house gathering money. The wren-boys dress themselves in old torn clothes and
    (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
    May Mc Clelland
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Kiffagh, Co. Cavan