School: Gleann
- Location:
- Glan, Co. Cork
- Teacher: (name not given)
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1128, Page 021
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- (continued from previous page)bush. When dressed they sally forth. They make a gay sight - coloured ribbons and paper floating in the breeze. The clown with his black face and dressed in brilliant colours acts half-foolishly as it were. They must also provide a money-box.
If a right one is not in their possession the get a tin box - usually a cocoa-box - and cut a slit in the cover, having already bound on the cover. They let the money drop in the slit. One of them also carries a bugle or horn. I've seen a large kind of a seashell use as a bugle, which they sounded meaning every house to tell they were coming. A bottle is also used.
They sing "the wren song" at every house and they get money from the man of the house. At some houses they get tea. After the day's travelling they divide the money among themselves, or sometimes they use it on food and other things which they take to some house and hold a dance there. By singing the wren song they earn the money. The following is the song which is sung:-
