School: Tervoe (C.) (roll number 5932)
- Location:
- Tervoe, Co. Limerick
- Teacher: Máire Ní Stiopháin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0527, Page 409
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- (continued from previous page)ST STEPHEN'S DAYThe custom of "Burying the wren" is religiously carried out each year. Groups of boys dress up in old fantastic clothes and go from house to house collecting money. They wear Aghaidh Fidils to disguise themselves. They often bring mouth-organs, fiddles and melodians and play and sing:-"The wren (ran) the wren the King of all Birds,
St Stephen's day was caught int he furze,
Although he is little, his family is great,
Stand up fair lady and give us a treat (trate)
Up with the kettle and down with the pan
Give us our answer and let us be gone.
And if your money is anyway slack,
Give us a bit of your barn brack.""We followed the wren 3 miles and more three miles and more three miles and more
We followed the wren 3 miles and more
On a cold and frosty morning."
They often come into a big farm-house kitchen and dance. They are kindly received by the people who always give them pennies. They collect about 5/ and the younger folk treat themselves to lemonade etc.
