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  3. Cill Mhuire (C.), Oileán Ciarraí

School: Cill Mhuire (C.), Oileán Ciarraí (roll number 10395)

Location:
Kilmurry, Co. Kerry
Teacher:
Máiréad Pléimeann
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0449, Page 068

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0449, Page 068

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  1. XML School: Cill Mhuire (C.), Oileán Ciarraí
  2. XML Page 068
  3. XML “The Wren Boys”

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  1. The Wren Boys

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    On Saint Steohen's day boys from 18 to 25 years of age as a rule disguise themselves and go "In the Wren". They each carry a branch of holly and on the Captain's branch there is fastened with a piece of string a dead wren.
    Like the Biddy Boys they dance, sing, or recite in every house, but instead of asking for something for the Biddy, they hold up the branch on which the wren is fastened, and ask for something to bury the wren.
    If their post is slow to procure the donation one of them recites "The wren the wren the king of all birds
    Saint Stephens Day he was caught in the furze.
    Although he is little his family is great
    Get up long daddy and give us a treat.
    II
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
        1. Feast of St Stephen (~402)
    Language
    English
    Informant
    Darby Riordan
    Gender
    Male