School: Naomh Eoin, Cill Choinnigh (roll number 1301)

Location:
Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Teacher:
Bráthair Tomás Mac Binéid
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0856, Page 135

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0856, Page 135

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  2. XML Page 135
  3. XML “The Wren Day”

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    be in the long ago. They used to hunt down the wren and carry the "King of all birds" on a holly bough in triumph. Now-a-days the mummers will not go to the trouble of chasing the poor creature. The head of a turkey or a crow will do them just as well.
    On arriving at the house one of the party, with a flowing beard, who had the cheek to call himself St Patrick would step forwards and recite.
    "Here I come, St Patrick,
    The apostle of this land
    I banished skakes and serpents
    With my good and holy hand
    I blessed the land of Erin
    I blessed it o'er and o'er
    In honour of St Patrick
    The shamrock shall be wore
    If you don't believe in what I say call on Belzeebub
    And he'll clear the way"
    The his satanic "majesty majesty" stepped out on the centre of the floor and a cat would want to have a sound heart or else die with the fright.
    "Here I come Belzeebub" he would declare "under my arm I carry my club. Under my chin I carry my pan. Dont I look like a funny old man?"
    Then Devil Douse, "the biggest Devil in the house" would enter on the scene, "money he'd want money he'd
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
        1. Feast of St Stephen (~402)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Martin Dwyer
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    11
    Occupation
    Schoolboy
    Address
    Greenridge, Co. Kilkenny
    Informant
    Stephen Dwyer
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    40
    Address
    Greenridge, Co. Kilkenny