The Wran the Wran the king of all birds
On St. Stephen’s Day he was caught in the furze
Up with the kettle and down with the pan
A penny or tuppence to bury the wran
The Wran the Wran for all to see
Here dressed up in a holly tree
Now Mrs Murphy don’t be thinking
Give us our money and let us go drinking

The annual Wren Boys Festival takes place again this year at Sandymount Green, Dublin 4 on St. Stephen’s Day (26th December) with musicians celebrating the old tradition of Hunting the Wran.
The Festival is preceded by a poetry reading at 11.30am and begins officially at 12 mid-day. It is all over by 2pm so get up early and make the most of it.

Among the music-makers and events expected to feature on the Gig Rig on the day are Clannad, The Swords Mummers, City Fair, The Ned O’Shea musicians and dancers, Shay McGovern, Clanna Gael dancers, Monkstown dancers, Antoinette Heery, Pat Spillane, Mick Lacey, a genuine Kiwi haka and many others from far and wide playing bodhrans, bagpipes, tin whistles and even combs.
Each year a charity is nominated to benefit from a collection made at the merrymaking on that morning.

This year the charity selected by the Wran Boys Committee will be Open Door Day Care Centre, a Bray-based charity whose catchment area covers North Wicklow and South County Dublin providing facilities and activities for adult members with many forms of disability. The Committee would like to thank their generous sponsors: AIB, Bennetts, SPAR, Café Java and Sandymount House.

For further information on the Wren Boys Festival please contact: Heather Latchford
Tel/Fax: 01 2858008, Mobile: 086 2448729, email: heatherlatchford@eircom.net