‘THE SCHOOLS’ COLLECTION’

Initiated by the Irish Folklore Commission, ‘The Schools Collection’ was heavily dependent on the cooperation of the Department of Education and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation. It was originally to run from 1937 to 1938, but was extended to 1939 in specific cases. For the duration of the project, more than 50,000 schoolchildren from 5,000 schools in the 26 counties of the Irish Free State were enlisted to collect folklore in their home districts. This included oral history, topographical information, folktales and legends, riddles and proverbs, games and pastimes, trades and crafts.

Children recorded this material from their parents, grandparents and neighbours and the scheme resulted in the creation of over half a million manuscript pages and is generally referred to as ‘Bailiúchán na Scol’ or ‘The Schools’ Collection’.

While many of the nursery rhymes will be familiar to present day school-going children, perhaps parents or grandparents can relate to others which may have been lost over time, for whatever reason.

NURSERY RHYMES

Nellie Cashman is my name, With this pen I write the same Grass is green, roses are red Remember me when I dead.

One, two, three, my mother caught a bee.

The bee died, my mother cried and out goes she.

There was a crooked man, Who walked a crooked mile, He got a crooked sixpence, Near a crooked stile He bought a crooked cat, That caught a crooked mouse And they all lived together In a crooked little house.

This little piggy went to the market This little piggy stayed at home

This little piggy got bread and butter And this little piggy got none

And this little piggy said,

Squeak, Squeak, at the barn door.

Green gravel, green gravel,

The grass is so green,

The fairest of ladies that ever were seen We’ll wash them, we’ll comb them

We’ll dry them in silk,

And we’ll write down their names

With a gold pen and ink.

Pussy cat, pussy cat,

Where have you been?

Up in London to see the Queen, The queen did not like me, No more than the king.

So dear little pussy cat,

Came back again.

Little Jackie Ginger,

Married a wife for silver, He caught a stick and broke her back

And threw her out the window.

Inky, Pinky, Polly, my father bought a dolly. Dolly died father cried

Inky, Pinky, Polly.

Clap hands, clap hand till Daddy comes home

Daddy has money, Mammy has none.

Who’ll prepare the dinner said the red little hen? I won’t said the tipy mouse. I won’t said the tapy mouse. I’ll do it myself said the red little hen.

Who’ll bring in the water said the red little hen? I won’t said the tipy mouse. I won’t said the tapy mouse. I’ll do it myself said the red little hen.

Who’ll light the fire said the red little hen? I won’t said the tipy mouse. I won’t said the tapy mouse. I’ll do it myself said the red little hen. Who’ll boil the potatoes said the red little hen? I won’t said the tipy mouse. I won’t said the tapy mouse. I’ll do it myself said the red little hen. Who’ll fry the meat said the red little hen? I won’t said the tipy mouse. I won’t said the tapy mouse. I’ll do it myself said the red little hen. Who’ll lay the table said the red little hen? I won’t said the tipy mouse. I won’t said the tapy mouse. I’ll do it myself said the red little hen. Who’ll eat the dinner said the red little hen. I will said the tipy mouse. I will said the tapy mouse. No, I’ll eat it myself said the red little hen.

Seo leo baby bunting,

Dadda’s gone a-hunting. Mamma’s gone to milk the cow, to bring the baby something.

Hi! Diddle, diddle the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon, the little dog laughed to see such sport and the dish ran away with the spoon.

Gallop and trot from Mallow to Cork To buy some meat to put in the pot A shoulder of beef, A shoulder of veal A fine fat goose and a turkey-cock.

Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it.

There was not a penny in it But a ribbon around it.

Jack the Spratt would eat no fat

His wife would eat no lean,

Between them both they ate the goat And licked the dishes clean.

Oranges, oranges in a row where does the old crow go,

To the east to the west to the old crow’s nest. Hopping in the garden, skipping in the sea, if you want a fair lady

Please pick me.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,

All good children go to heaven.

A penny by the water, two-pence by the sea,

Three-pence by the Railway and out goes she.

Tom Tom the piper’s son

Stole a pig and he did run

The pig was eat and Tom was beat And he came roaring down the street

Pussy cat, pussy cat,

Where have you been?

Up in London to visit the Queen Pussy cat, pussy cat,

What did you get there

I got a little mouse under the chair

Ding dong bell, Pussies in the well, Who pulled them out, Little Johnny Stout. Five, six, seven, eight.

Chip chop cherry all the men in Londonderry could not climb the walls of chip, chop, cherry.

If the bugy man shall come at night.

Eyes like saucers giving you a fright.

If you’re tucked in bed without the light how would you like to be a baby girl?

Rosy Apple went to Chapel Riding on a pony

She stuck a feather in her hat And called it Macaroney

O, Ice cream a penny a lump

The more you eat the more you jump.

A little cock robin perched on a green tree, He chirped, he chirped, he chirped for me. In came a boy with a bow and an arrow And said he would shoot my little cock sparrow

Away, away, away he flew.

He opened his wings & away he flew.

Christmas is coming,

And the goose is getting fat, And we must throw a shilling In the priest’s old hat.

Monday’s child is fair of face Tuesday’s child is full of grace Wednesday’s child is merry and glad

As I went into a tailor’s shop

Not knowing what to do.

I took my needle & my thread

And I stitched my long tail blue.

Jackie Kipper lost his slipper on a Sunday morning

The Police-man came and took his name And made him say Good-morning.

As Tommy Snooks and Bessie Brooks were walking out one Sunday

Said Tommy Snooks to Bessie Brooks To-morrow will be Monday.

Pat a cake pat a cake bakers man Bake me a cake as fast as you can

Pat it and prick it and mark it with B. And put it in the oven for baby and me.

Chimney Chimney Chimney sweeper Married a wife and could not keep her Married another and did not love her and up the chimney he did shove her.

I have a little bonnet trimmed with blue Why don’t you wear it so I do

I will wear it when I can

Going to the ball with my young man.

There was an old woman she lived in a shoe She had so many children she didn’t know what to do.

She went upstairs to ring the bell

She turned around and down she fell.

Little Tom Tucker sing for your supper What will I sing for?

Potatoes and butter.

Onery twory trickery Davy, Olivery Slatery, Henry Leary. Hixham. Dixham very good boy. Humber bumbur forty five.

I slept last night & the night before

And two wild cats came knocking at my door

I opened the door & let them in

And there they danced the Highland Fling

Wee Willie Winkle running through the town Upstairs and downstairs in his night gown, Rapping at the windows, crying through the lock

Are the children in their beds for it is now 10 o’clock.

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0378, Page 095-106 by Dúchas © National Folklore Collection, UCD is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0