School: Castletown

Location:
Castletown, Co. Meath
Teacher:
Owen Maguire
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0711, Page 357

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0711, Page 357

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  1. XML School: Castletown
  2. XML Page 357
  3. XML “Churning”
  4. XML “Local Festival Customs”

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  1. Saint Stephen's Day is the funniest of all festivals days. We dress our selves up in all sorts of fancy dress, tall hats with feathers, false faces flowered dresses carrying a spray of holly and a melodien. We go about the country dancing and singing. Everybody has a welcome for us and gives us coppers which we divide evenly, when we arrive home that night. Grown up wren boys as they are called travel long distances on bicycles and motors. This is an old Irish custom and people think it unlucky to get the wren burned outside their gate, which is done if they refuse to give money.
    The Eve of Saint John's Days is 24th June is another jolly time. For weeks before all the children of the district collect furze bushes and sticks to make a big bon-fire. Even the old people like to assemble at the cross-
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Michael Shalvey
    Gender
    Male
    Informant
    Mrs Thomas Shalvey
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    c. 55
    Address
    Leggagh, Co. Meath