School: St. Mary's, Athlone (Convent)

On this page

1. Béaloideas

   

   Share Share Post

   Long ago people called the wren "the devils bird". It was a very common practice with the youths in those days to hunt the wren with sticks and stones.

   On one occasion a number of youths went out to hunt the wren. After long searching they succeeded in killing five. They tied them to a stick and carried them in triumphant procession along the road. They happened to meet an old man on the road. He stopped them and told the story of the wren.

   He said, "it was the time the soldiers were looking for Our Saviour to kill Him. He walked over a field where a man was sowing wheat and drops of blood bell from Him as He walked across it and by a miracle the wheat sprang up in one night. The next day the soldiers passed by the same road in search of Him. There was a robin on a thorn bush in the wheat-field and when he saw the soldiers it lay on every drop of blood and didn't leave a trace for the soldiers to follow. When they saw no sign of Our Lord, they turned and went (?) marching off when the wren flew up to them and said "The wheat was sown yesterday." Then they turned again and went to the

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Lillie Mc Cormac

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Athlone, Co. Westmeath