School: Killyconnan (B.)

Location:
Killyconnan, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
P. Kearney
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0979, Page 097

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0979, Page 097

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  1. XML School: Killyconnan (B.)
  2. XML Page 097
  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. In this district on St Stephen's Day boys and grown-up men go from house to house, with boxes on top of sticks with a few feathers sticking out pretending that they have a wren. The sing the wren song at each house.
    The song is as follows:-
    The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
    On Stephen's Day she was caught in the furze.
    Up with the pot and down with the pan
    A penny or twopence to bury the wren.
    Although she is small her family is great
    Rise up landlady and give us a treat.
    If they got so (no) money at the house they would bury the "wren" and it is believed that bad luck would follow. They usually get money at every house they go to. The grown-up men gather to the public house and procure drink for themselves with the money they get, while the young boys spend the money on sweets. The grown-up men dress in disguise
    (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
    James Gilcreest
    Informant
    Mr Patrick Gilcreest
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    50
    Address
    Cuttragh, Co. Cavan