School: Killashandra (2.)

Location:
Killashandra, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
Laura Patton
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0985, Page 23

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0985, Page 23

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  2. XML Page 23
  3. XML “The Wren Boys”

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  1. On Saint Stephen's day boys and men dress in old bags and rags and go through the towns and country getting money to bury the wren. There is a story told about the wren. One Saint Stephen's day there was a skirmish fought between the Irish and English. The English were asleep and their enemies were approaching them. The wren was in the furze and hopped on their drum and made a noise. The English awoke and beat back the Irish. This is why the wren is not liked by Irishmen. The following few lines are written about the wren -
    "The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
    On Saint Stephen's day was hid in the furze.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. genre
      1. narratives (~478)
    2. agents (~1)
      1. animal-lore (~1,185)
    3. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
        1. Feast of St Stephen (~402)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Charles Hales
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Lahard, Co. Cavan
    Informant
    Mrs Hales
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Lahard, Co. Cavan