School: St Columba's, Buncrana
- Location:
- Buncrana, Co. Donegal
- Teacher: Eoghan Ua Gallchobhair
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1111, Page 011
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- About a month or so before Christmas every year the Rhymers begin to prepare themselves to entertain the people in the country districts, and as a result of their labours to gather some money. At that time they are busy getting together false faces, old flour bags out of which uniforms are made, swords etc.When all their parapharnalia is complete they don their uniforms and equipment and go from house to house through the country in the night time. Some of them travel far from home sometimes as far as thirty miles and they must find it a very lucrative business.They always ask permission to enter a house and if that permission is not granted they proceed to the next house. After the New Year the Rhymers generally hold a dance in some country house. No invitations are issued but everybody is welcome and the money which they have collected is spent in providing tea for those present.In every house the Rhymers present a short little play and the following is the little play commonly done in this district.
Enter first of all Room Room dressed in some fantastic costume, wearing a false face and carrying a sword.(continues on next page)
- Informant
- George Mc Laughlin
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Buncrana, Co. Donegal
