School: Cnoc na Manach, An Mhainistir Bhán, Cionn tSáile (roll number 1391)
- Location:
- Cnoc na Manach, Co. Chorcaí
- Teacher: Dáithí de Barra
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0321, Page 107
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“On St Stephen's Day boys and in some cases men go out with the wren...”
On St Stephen's day boys and in some cases men go out with the wren gathering money. They decorate themselves and go from house to house singing the wren's song. Sometimes the boys cannot get a wren and they say that the wren knew the day and went into hiding. They put the wren on a holly bush and decorate it with ribbons and coloured papers. They sing the wren's song at every house.The wren the wren the king of all birds
Saint Stephen's Day was caught in the furze.
From bush to bush from tree to tree
Down in Minane Bridge he broke his knee
Up with the kettle and down with the pot
Give me my answer and let me be going
I have a little box under my arm
Two or three pence won't do it any harm
- Collector
- Maighréad Ní Bhuachalla
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Cnoc na Manach, Co. Chorcaí