Photographer: Caoimhín Ó Danachair, 1947

We weren’t deeply into any Irish traditions in middle class Cork in the fifties when I was a boy.
There was however one day of the year when we followed an unique Irish tradition and that was on Stephens Day when every year we went around all local houses as Wren Boys.

I am fairly sure that the main motive for this observance was deep personal greed.

Usually a few days before Christmas we would have gone on a similar visitation of local houses but on that occasion we would have gone Carol singing, always for a designated charity.
Wren boying had no such altruistic motives, every penny we made on Stephens day was immediately spent in Mr. O Sullivans shop on the Lower Road on sweets.

Wren boying as a tradition has a long history in Ireland, it has all sorts of significance and originally involved the transportation of a dead Wren on a branch.
Our interpretation was not quite so authentic.
We would dress in a motly assortment old raggy dressing up clothes, muddy up our faces and then go sing the Wren Song outside houses.

The Wren the Wren
The king of all birds
St Stephens Day
Was caught in the furze
Up with the kettle and down with the pot
Give us our answer and let us begone
Knock at the knocker
Ring at the bell
Give us a copper for singing so well
Singing so well
Singing so well
Give us a copper for singing so well

At that moment we would be usually greeted by the man or woman of the house who would open the door.
This was our cue to sing the next bit.

God bless the Mistress of the house
A Glolden Chain around her neck
And be she sick or be she sore
The lord have mercy all the more

Then we would launch once more into:

Knock at the knocker……….

This was the moment when we would be handed some loose change, always fairly cheerfully.

After thirty or so houses we would usually have about thirty shillings which bought one hell of a lot of sweets in Mr. O’s

I have never seen a wren boy in Waterford and so must assume the custom has died out here.