School: Leac Snámha (B.) (roll number 10957)

Location:
Lixnaw, Co. Kerry
Teacher:
Dáithí. B. Ó Duilleáin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0411, Page 132

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0411, Page 132

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  1. XML School: Leac Snámha (B.)
  2. XML Page 132
  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. In this district people observe feasts in certain ways. On Saint Stephen's day young boys and young men go around with the wren. They get masks called "Hy-fiddles" and put them on their faces and go around from house to house. When they go in to a house they sing a song about the wren. This is the usual song they sing:-
    The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
    On Saint Stephen's day, he was caught in the furze.
    Although he being little, his family are great.
    Cheer up landlady, and give us a treat.
    When the young boys have a sum of money gathered they divide it between them and they buy sweets and cakes for it and sometimes they make up for a football or a set of hurlers. When they are going around the leader has a bunch of holly in his hand and a wren tied to it. The musical instruments they have are mouth-organs and a fiddle. When the men have
    (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
    Maurice Mc Auliffe
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Ballintogher, Co. Kerry
    Informant
    Maurice Heffernan
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Ballintogher, Co. Kerry