School: Athlone (Mixed) (roll number 16092)
- Location:
- Baile Átha Luain, Co. na hIarmhí
- Teacher: T. Hunter
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0748, Page 107
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- XML “Festival Customs”
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- A great many customs are observed in this district.
On Saint Stephen’s day boys and sometimes men dress up in old clothes and go from house to house dancing and singing. They sing all sorts of songs but the one most commonly sung is
“The wren the wren the king of all birds,
On St Stephen’s day he was caught in the furze
Although he is small his family is great
Rise up landlord and give us a trate”
The boys are called “Wren boys” and they collect money, which is divided among them, and sometimes it is all put together and they have a party that night.
People usually leave their doors open on St. Brigid’s day and on that day children dress up in white.
Green harps and shamrocks are worn on St. Patrick’s day.
People eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.
People are supposed to put dust outside their doors on Ash Wednesday and they also put the sign of the cross on(continues on next page)
