School: Killmallock Convent School
- Location:
- Kilmallock, Co. Limerick
- Teacher: An tSr. Dimpna
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0528, Page 285
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- There are many local customs held around here. On St. Stephen's Day all of the young boys of this place go around to gather the wren, and when they would come to the people's doors, they would sing the following song."The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,
Although he was little his family was great
Rise up you young ladies and give us a treat
But if the treat if of the small,
That won't agree with the boys at all
Up with the kettle and down with the pan
Give us our answer and let us be gone.
I followed this wren through frost and snow
I followed this wren ten miles and more
From bush to bush, and tree to tree,
At Carrig-an-Lish, I broke his knee
And brought him home on a holly-bush
Up with the kettle and down with the pan
Give us our answer and let us be gone.On St. Brigid's night a piece of blue or white ribbon is put out and in the morning it is supposed to be an inch longer. The old people say that Saint Brigid flies around and chooses the ribbon. The ribbon is then kept, and if anyone had a head-ache(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Eily O' Connell
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Kilmallock, Co. Limerick
