SANTA

The little wren was supposed to have betrayed the presence of St.Stephen who was caught and executed: in fact St.Stephen was stoned to death in a hollow where corn was ground. My grandfather who had a corngrinder would not work it on St.Stephens Day, as it was customary that no corn was ground on that day in honour of the Saint’s feast day.
I remember as a child over 40 years ago seeing the “Wren Boys” arrive at our door on a frosty St.Stephens Day. They were dressed up in colourful clothes and had soot and paint on their faces. They played mouth organs, accordions and tin whistles.
Everyone in the household came out to see them perform, they usually chanted the song :
“The wran, the wran, the king of all birds,
St. Stephens Day he was caught in the furze,
And though he is little his family is great,
So rise up landlady and give us a treat,
Up with the kettle and down with the pan,
and give us some money to bury the wran……”

When they had finished their song, food and drink and money was given to the group and off they went to another house to repeat the performance, and get some more gifts. This old tradition died out around these parts over the last 30 years or so. I suppose television and better economic circumstances accounted for its decline.
A few of us in 1997 decided that it would be nice to revive the custom locally. Donadea Forest Park was used as the venue and with the exception of 1998 (due to a storm) the event has been held there ever since.
A number of people have added some new dimensions to it each year, straw costumes were made 2 years ago and prove very popular with the children. A Small child is dressed up as, a wren and the Wren Boys try to catch him, but the straw boys protect the wren and shield him from the Wren Boys. The significance of the Straw boys protecting the Wren, is a message to all of us to protect our wild life and our environment, with the great victory in Kilcock, earlier this year in stopping the building of the proposed toxic incinerator, this gives the environmental protection theme even more meaning this year.
The proceeds from this year’s concert (“The Millennium Wren Boy’s Concert”) will go to The Day Care Centre in Newtown, and we hope we will get big support from the wider public and hope plenty of musicians and performers will dress up and come along to make this day a fine community event.
If the weather is not kind to us we will stage all the event in St.Kevins G.A.A. club rooms. The event will “kick off” in Donadea Forest Park at 1.30pm – until late! So come along and bring a donation to support the Newtown Day Care Centre.