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School: Ballycastle Boys' (roll number 14290)

Location:
Ballycastle, Co. Mayo
Teacher:
Mícheál de Búrca
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0140, Page 153

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0140, Page 153

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  3. XML “Irish Customs on Festival Days”

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  1. Irish Customs on Festival Days

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    St Stephen's Day
    On this day boys and sometimes men catch and kill a wren. They then get some sticks and make a bier and go around collecting money to bury the wren.
    The following verse is related by the "wren boys" as they go into each house:-
    "The wren, the wren, the king of all birds.
    On Stephen's Day was caught in the firs. Up with the kettle and down with the pan.
    Give us a penny to bury the wren."
    In the evening the wren is buried and all the money is divided evenly among the "wren boys". If any money is left over after every boy getting his own share, sweets or fruit are
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Brendan Mc Andrew
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Ballycastle, Co. Mayo
    Informant
    John Mc Donnell
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    72
    Address
    Ballycastle, Co. Mayo