School: Ardrahan, Mainistir Ó dTórna (roll number 13167)

Location:
Ardrahan, Co. Kerry
Teacher:
Bean Uí Dhonnabháin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0412, Page 212

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0412, Page 212

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  1. XML School: Ardrahan, Mainistir Ó dTórna
  2. XML Page 212
  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. On St Stephen's Day the boys of this district dress up and go out with the wren. They take some musical instrument with them and in each house they sing the following song.
    The "wran" the "wran" the king of all birds
    On St. Stephen's day she was caught in the furze
    Although she is little her family is great
    So get up landlady and give us a "trate" (treat)
    If the treat be of the best
    I hope in heaven your soul may rest
    And if the treat be small it will not please the boys at all
    Down by the glen as we did "bate"
    Our gentlemen to overtake
    We overtook the men in the glen
    Which caused our "wran" boys to sing
    Holly and ivy, ivy and holly we'll set up
    The man of the house has very good luck
    With his right hand he fills the cup
    And with his sweet lips he tips it up
    Christmas comes but once a year
    And when it comes it brings great cheer
    A loaf of breed and a bottle of beer
    Three cheers for Christmas every year
    Come old woman stir up your feathers
    Don;t think in your mind that we are beggars
    (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
    Joe Nolan
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Ballybroman, Co. Kerry
    Informant
    Ned Mahony
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    71
    Address
    Ballybroman, Co. Kerry