School: Baile na Martra (B.) (roll number 13647)
- Location:
- Castlemartyr, Co. Cork
- Teacher: Seán de Barra
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0396, Page 103
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- XML “Festival Customs”
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- St. Stephen's day.
On St Stephen's day the wren boys go out with the wren, as it is the usual custom to collect money. They dress up in paper suits and go from door to door singing the wren song. Before the day comes a crowd of boys go out in the woods to get a good holly-bush. They also try to kill a wren but they are seldom successful in getting one. Which-ever crowd is first gets the most money and when evening comes they divide the money between them. This is the song that is usually sung by them :-The Wren
The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
On Christmas day he was caught in the furze,
Although he was little, his family were great,
Rise up you land-lady and give us a treat.
II
As I was going up a straw hall,
I met a dreoleen upon the wall,
Up with my stick and I gave him a fall,
And I brought him here to visit you all.
III
I have a boxeen under my arm
Two or three-pence will do it no harm,(continues on next page)
