WREN BOYS LIGHT UP ENNISKERRY
THE Curtlestown Wren Boys brought music, dancing, poetry, and outrageous costumes to Enniskerry last Tuesday, St Stephen’s Day.
The group gathered for the annual tradition at Shop River, and raised a wonderful €2,121.94 for the Charabanc organisation.
Charabanc is a caring charity for the elderly in Enniskerry and the surrounding areas. It was formed after a parish forum in May 1998 which identified a need for the improvement of care for isolated people and elderly living at home. The vision was to enhance their quality of life by providing a social outlet with organised activities, with a bus, and Friday afternoon sessions in the Enniskerry Parochial Hall. Charabanc is also an approved housing body. There was plenty of support and a great turnout for a most enjoyable afternoon of performance and fun.
The ‘president’ and his wife even made an appearance, played expertly by Joe Wilson and Domhnaill Finch.
Traditionally, the festive occasion included the hunting of wrens. These days no wrens are hunted or killed but the pre- Christian tradition lives on in the playing of music at local spots and collecting for charity. The musicians wear raggy clothes and straw hats as is tradition in the post Christmas wren hunt and play Irish jigs, reels and the Wren Song. In fact, a bird feeder was even put out to let the feathered friends know they were not at risk.