School: Ballyhaise
- Location:
- Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: Thos. Plunkett
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0973, Page 324
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- (continued from previous page)St. Stephen's Day - Wren boys go from house to house carrying a box, out of which are sticking a few feathers and supposed to contain the wren. The boys chant the following rhyme"The wren the wren the king of all birds
On St. Stephen's Day she was caught in the furze
Although she is small her family is great
Rise up land lady and give us a treat"A small amount of money is given to the boys. If they are refused money at any house they threaten to burry the wren at the door. This is supposed to bring bad luck on the house so "to get rid of them" they are given something. In the evening the money is divided the leader gets half and the remainder is divided amoung the men. A treat is bought usually consisting of sweets and cigarettes.Rosaleen Johnston
14 years on the 7th June 1937
Got from Mary Callaghan
Drumliff
Ballyhaise
Co. Cavan
Age 79
- Collector
- Rosaleen Johnston
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 14
- Informant
- Mary Callaghan
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 79
- Address
- Drumliff, Co. Cavan
