School: Coill na Leac

Location:
Kilnaleck, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
P. Mac Geibheannaigh
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0976, Page 085

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0976, Page 085

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  1. XML School: Coill na Leac
  2. XML Page 085
  3. XML “St Stephen's Day”
  4. XML “May Day”

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  1. The growing up boys go with the wren on St Stephen's day. They dress themselves in paper hats and false faces and long coats. This is the rhyme the boys say. The wren, the wren the king of all birds.
    On Stephen's day he was caught in the furze.
    Although he is little his family is great.
    I pray you good lady give us a treat.
    My box would speak if it had but a tongue.
    And a penny or two would do it no wrong
    Sing holly, sing ivy, sing ivy, sing holly.
    A drop just to drink would drown melancholy
    And if you draw it of the best.
    I hope in heaven your soul may rest.
    And if you draw it of the small.
    It wont agree with the wren boys at all.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
        1. Feast of St Stephen (~402)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Bernard Fitzpatrick
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Kilnaleck, Co. Cavan
  2. It is an old custom that children have a may bush, and they get the bush that evening before the first of May. The May bush is by getting a piece of a bush, and putting a row of stones around the May-bush, and putting a row of flowers on the bush. The
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.