School: Cloncarneel
- Location:
- Cloncarneel, Co. Meath
- Teacher: Máire, Bean Uí Bhreacáin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0695, Page 242
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- On St. Stephen's Day all the young men go around with the wren. They dress themselves up in funny clothes, and put on false faces. More of them polish or paint their faces. They gather all the old clothes they can get to wear on St. Stephen's Day. They carry a branch with them all decorated with holly ivy, and ribbons. They go from house to house singing a rhyme and dancing. All the pople of the houses give them money. They have a musician with them, and also a person for gathering the money. This is the rhyme they say,"The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
St. Stephen's Day, she was caught in the firs
Although she is little or family is great
Rise up now landlady and give us our treat
My brogues are wore, my coat is tore
Following the wren three days and(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Janie Dunne
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Corballis, Co. Meath
