School: Clochar na Toirbhirte

Location:
Lismore, Co. Waterford
Teacher:
Sr M. Gráinne
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0635, Page 273

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0635, Page 273

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  1. XML School: Clochar na Toirbhirte
  2. XML Page 273
  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. On St Stephen's Day a crowd of boys gather together, each of them carries a holly bush decorated with colored papers which they call the "wren bush." They go from door to door singing the following amhrán.
    "The wren the wren the king of all birds, St Stephens Day he was caught in the furze
    We hunted him up and we hunted him down.
    And all the wren boys knocked him down
    All silver no brass, give us our answer and let us pass.
    Two pence or three pence to bury the wren
    Up with the kettle and down with the pan
    On the Eve of St Brigid's
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Peggie O' Brien
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Lismore, Co. Waterford
    Informant
    Mrs G. O' Brien
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Lismore, Co. Waterford