School: Lismire, Áth Treasa
- Location:
- Lismire, Co. Cork
- Teacher: John Hishon
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0352, Page 100
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- XML “Festival Customs”
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- There are many feasts observed in Ireland still, though many customs are dying away a little.
On St Stephen's day young boys go around from house to house playing different musical instruments and singing songs. They dress in different costumes, with their faces blackened and covered with masks. They often spend their money in public houses. Some of these "wran boys", as they were called, are good musicians or singers, and they generally finish up with the "wren song" which goes as follows:-
The wren, the wren, the King of all birds,
St Stephen's day he was caught in the furze,
Although he being little, his family is great,
So stand up my laddie and give us a "trate"
This custom is very much in vogue in North Cork and also in parts of Tipperary. Shortly after(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Michael O' Callaghan
- Gender
- Male
- Informant
- Denis Kearney
- Gender
- Male
